Free and PCP attack cost-of-life measures: “Advertising action”

ANDthese positions were taken by MP Patrícia Gonçalves and the parliamentary leader of the CFP, Paula Santos, in statements to journalists in the Assembly of the Republic.

She said that the proposals announced “are not enough, nor do they solve the problem of most families”, stressing that the decline of the IRS does not benefit workers who do not pay this tax.

Patrícia Gonçalves recalled that his party advocates the return of VAT on essential goods to families with lower incomes and reduction mechanisms of the ISP “different from those proposed by the Government”.

“ Another thing that concerns us is the increase in the profit margin of oil throughout this crisis since the end of February 2026. Finally, it seems that the government already recognises that yes, that the profit margin of oil has increased. It has an initiative that will charge, if its profits exceed 20%, the average profit of 2024 and 2025, which means that if the increase in profits is 19%, the oil companies will not pay another cent,” he said.

The Free, because he considers that the result of this tax will not occur immediately, understands that it would be more correct for there to be “a imposition of the ceilings of fuel profit margins”.

By the PCP, Paula Santos accused the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, of “another propaganda action” with the announcement of “measures already announced”.

“The Prime Minister has missed an opportunity to actually move forward with the solutions that are needed for workers, so that the people can indeed, and to combat this increase in the cost of living,” he said.

The leader of the Communist bench argued that the government should have the initiative, in the diplomacy plan, to “stop this war and the sanctions that are leading to increased cost of living”.

Paula Santos also asked for “concrete measures and solutions” such as increasing wages, pensions, considering that only in this way is it possible to “recover purchasing power”.

“ It is also necessary to intervene where price speculation is taking place and, in particular, to intervene in price control, in particular in food, fuel, to fix the value of bottled gas at EUR 20,” he added.

The Government approved this Thursday EUR 38 million in support of the sectors most affected by fuels, the decrease in IRS rates from 1st to 6th grades and the extraordinary supplement that will be awarded to pensioners who receive up to EUR 1,611,39.

At the press conference in which he announced the deliberations of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister defended the policy pursued by the Government to support fuel and increase the cost of living, refusing to exchange it for “threatful and uncoordinated measures” that could “reissue tragedies”.