Livre will propose in the budget that the book voucher goes from the current 20 euros to 100 euros, and a study will be carried out so that it can be extended to other cultural assets, with the intention also of strengthening the cooperative housing sector.
In a press conference at the Assembly of the Republic, the parliamentary leader of Livre, Isabel Mendes Lopes, considered that Culture “is always a poor relation in state budgets”, but it is part of the daily life of the Portuguese. and “it is essential to create community.”
In this context, among the proposals that Livre will present in the discussion on the State Budget for the culture sector, Isabel Mendes Lopes highlighted the increase in the book bonus, which is currently 20 euros for anyone who turns 18 years old.
“It is a measure that we welcome, but 20 euros is not enough and it seems to us that it should be increased. For this reason, we are going to propose increasing the book bonus, which already exists, to 100 euros, because that gives a much greater possibility of buying more books and a greater variety of books,” he said.
Livre will also propose that a study be carried out to expand this check “for all types of culture”allowing access to other cultural goods, such as plays or cinema.
On the other hand, Livre wants to define a Specific budget for the development of “Creation Houses”which, in the words of Isabel Mendes Lopes, are “spaces where people can experience the creation of culture” and where there are “musical instruments, 3D printers, sewing machines, everything necessary to experience the creation of culture.”
“It seems very important to us to have a network of Casas da Criação in Portugal. It was a recommendation that Livre approved here in the Assembly of the Republic and for which a budget allocation is now needed for the municipalities to create it,” he said.
In this package of proposals for culture, the party also presents a measure to “keep the Mirandese language alive”, proposing the creation of the Instituto da Língua Mirandesa which, in the first year, would have an endowment of 300 thousand euros to guarantee that This language does not go away.
In addition to these measures for culture, Livre also presented proposals for housing, where Isabel Mendes Lopes argued that the current State Budget “does not respond” to the emergency in the sector and the measures that the Government has taken have only “aggravated” it. . and caused an increase in prices.
The parliamentary leader of Livre maintained that it is necessary to promote the cooperative sector, considering that it is an “essential pillar for housing in Portugal”, immediately reinforcing the budget of the Institute of Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU) in “technical and financial” terms. support and legality that can be given to cooperative entities.”
“It is also necessary to list all the properties that can be used by the cooperative sector for housing and create a line in the Banco Português do Fomento to finance the cooperative sector”he stated.
To combat real estate speculation, Livre will also propose a change in tax benefits, to ensure that they are only awarded to projects that have provided some form of affordable housing.
Isabel Mendes Lopes also mentioned that, at the proposal of Livre, the creation of an Emergency Fund for Housing was approved in the State Budget for 2024, financed with 25% of the stamp tax collected on all real estate transactions, and that aims to ensure that people do not have to leave home.
“This fund should already be working but its regulation by the Government is missing. In our accounts we will already have about 100 million euros, a very important amount, to support those who are at risk of losing their home,” he stressed, highlighting that Livre will once again insist, in budgetary terms, on this. Fund that will be activated, in addition to once again proposing the reinforcement of the 3C program: Home, Comfort, Climate.
Source: Observadora
