IL will vote against the State Budget: “it doesn’t move the needle in relation to the PS”

Mariana Leitão accuses the Government of a lack of ambition and lack of State reform: “At the outset, it is very difficult to approve, or even abstain, from a budget that does not solve the country’s and people’s problems”.

The leader of the Liberal Initiative (IL), Mariana Leitão, announced that the party will vote, “from the start”, against the State Budget for 2026 (OE2026)considering that the proposal presented by the PSD Government is “unambitious”, “greedy” and little different from previous socialist versions.

In an interview with the newspaper Público, the liberal leader criticized the maintenance of the high tax burden, the increase in public spending and what she considers to be a lack of political courage to reform Public Administration. According to Mariana Leitão, the OE2026 “does not move the needle” in relation to PS policiesfailing to substantially reduce labor taxes and respond to the housing crisis.

“Once again, it is never the State that makes any kind of sacrifice: it is always the sacrifice that is placed on people. This budget also does not respond to housing issues”, denounced Leitão.

“At the outset, it is very difficult to approve, or even abstainregarding a budget that does not solve the country’s problems and that does not solve people’s problems”, warns the liberal.

The IL leader defends a significant reduction in labor taxes and a more liberal housing policy, through the reduction of VAT on construction and income taxes. Although the Government has announced a reduction in VAT on construction, Mariana Leitão considers that the restrictions and bureaucracy associated with the measure prevent any real impact.

IL also accuses the Government of Luís Montenegro of not having advanced structural reforms in the State. “This minister has been in office for a few months and I still haven’t seen anything being done. Not even a glimpse of what will be done”, he said.

The question of public service continues to be one of the central themes of liberal discourse. Leitão reiterated that he does not defend indiscriminate dismissals, but rather the creation of an evaluation system based on merit.

Mariana Leitão accuses the executive of lacking courage to face “installed interests” within the Public Administration and the State’s business sector. “There is no courage to mess with the ‘boys’ and the ‘girls’ appointed to redundant bodies”, he criticized.

Regarding the political relationship, the liberal leader rejects the idea that the PS position — — influence IL’s decisions: “We do not shy away from presenting our proposals, regardless of who makes the budget viable.” He considers it “normal” that socialists do not oppose a budget “without major changes compared to the past”.