Tiago Petinga / Lusa
Liberals want to privatize RTP, CP, CGD and TAP, because the state “has no vocation to manage companies.” They say goodbye to the unique IRS rate they defended and want total social security reform.
IL proposes in the electoral program to legislatures from 18 May to TAP privatization, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, RTP and CP – Trains from Portugal, arguing that the state “has no vocation to manage companies”.
In the announced Thursday the party presents a “Privatization and Business Reduction Program” with a view to “reducing public expense, increasing economic efficiency and improving public services to citizen with private management”.
IL defends in particular the privatization of TAP, Caixa Geral de Depósitos and RTP, claiming that “have historically represented great charges unjustifiable for taxpayers and perpetuate an inefficient and politicized management model. ”
According to IL accounts, “TAP has absorbed 3,200 million euros” from the public purse, while RTP “costs 200 million of the state budget annual.”
In addition to these privatization, the party also proposes “the granting or privatization of public passenger transport services, including CP – Comboios de Portugal and Transtejo/Softusa, ensuring greater competition, better quality of service and reducing charges for the state”.
Still in this program for the state business reduction, the party proposes the alienation of 25% of state capital in Novo Banco.
Goodbye, Single IRS Rate
IL drops in the electoral program the single IRS rate it had defended in recent years, rather predicting the creation of two levels, and wants to reduce the IRC by five percentage points by the end of the legislature.
In the IL electoral program, the party defends the “total exemption” of IRS to the value of the national minimum wage, “by increasing specific deduction to this amount and withdrawal from the current minimum system of existence”.
For those who receive above the national minimum wage, IL wants to create a system of two echelons: The first, 15%, for gross income up to 26,768 euros, and the second of 28% for income above this value.
This proposal is a change regarding the posture of IL In recent years, when he had defended a single IRS rate of 15%.
In the last IL electoral program to March 2024 legislatures, for example, the party defended “a single IRS rate of 15% over income exceeding the national minimum wage, gradually starting with two 15% and 28% rates”.
According to the budget scenario presented by IL in this election program, this reduction in IRS would have a cost of about 2,400 million euros.
IRC “MUST DOWNLOAD”
Also with regard to the reduction of IRC, IL has changes when compared to the 2024 electoral program, which advocated “a single IRC rate of 12% for companies, except for large multinationals, which will be 15% according to that required by European law”.
Now, the party considers that the IRC rate, currently 20%, should lower “up to 15%, at least, until the end of the legislature, With a minimum cadence of two percentage points per year ”, a lower reduction than it proposed by 2024.
“This cut, performed responsibly and sustainably, will allow you to increase Portugal’s fiscal attractiveness to national and international companies; encourage the reinvestment of profits (…); foster the growth of the economy,” reads the program.
This proposal would have a cost of 1,750 million euros, according to the budget scenario presented by IL.
Total Reform in Social Security
With regard to Social Security, IL argues that the current system “is unsustainable” and argues that “a structural and gradual reform, based on freedom of choice, individual responsibility and intergenerational solidarity” is required.
IL thus proposes a pension model that, in the long run, becomes mixed, with a “public base pension” assured for all, complemented by a voluntary capitalization regime, which would be created immediately and that “would allow each citizen to begin to build their savings for reform.”
Along with this model, IL also advocates the creation of Savings and investment accounts exempt from taxes up to 20 thousand euros per yearwith a view to “stimulating savings and long -term investment, giving the Portuguese greater financial autonomy and reducing the sole dependence of social security”.
Widen parental license and freer schools
In terms of social rights, IL intends to extend the initial parental license for six months, 100%payments, Considering that it is a measure that “combines social ambition with budgetary sustainability”.
Na educationIL considers that schools should have “autonomy To define study plan, methods and management models ”and, on the education system, says defending a system“ centered on freedom of choice of families, allowing each student to attend the school that best fits their needs, aspirations and context ”.
“We propose a financing that accompanies the student, allowing their attendance in a school at their choice: public or private,” he reads.
Family doctor for all (public or private)
For health, the party insists on the Sua-Health program, with which he had already presented to legislatures in 2024, a new model for the health system that would guarantee a family doctor to all, using “private, social sector or shared management models-always without prejudice to investment in NHS”.
