The Social Democrats will propose the allocation of a food voucher worth 40 euros per month for all pensioners and retirees who receive a pension/retirement of up to 1,108 euros with effect between the months of September and December. The measure, explained this Friday Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, parliamentary leader of the PSD, will cover some 2.3 million people and will have an estimated cost of 360 million euros.
This is one of the seven major measures presented by the PSD in Parliament to deal with the effects of the economic and financial crisis. “The Government has been insensitive to the economic and social difficulties of families and companies. It is not possible to continue Wait for the government response. The Portuguese need a forceful response to this social emergency”, argued the Social Democrat.
The Social Emergency Program proposed by the PSD has a global value close to 1,500 million euros. In addition to food stamps for retired men and women, the Social Democrats want equal support for “all people who are active and earn an income up to the IRS 3rd level“.
In addition, explained Miranda Sarmento, the PSD wants the Reduction of the IRS in the 4th, 5th and 6th levels, for a global amount of 200 million euros. This measure would be implemented by reducing withholding rates in the last four months of the year, with the correction of the annual income tax return by updating the thresholds of said income tax brackets.
According to PSD accounts, the measure would cover about 1.3 million people and would have an estimated cost of 200 million euros. People who have an income of between 1,100 euros and 2,500 euros per month would benefit.
The PSD challenges the Government to go ahead with the Reduction of VAT on fuelelectricity and gas from the standard rate to the reduced rate (6%). In addition, Miranda Sarmento argued that, contrary to what the Government says, Brussels already allows the adoption of similar measures and countries such as Germany, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Spain, Holland, Italy, Romania have already approved the VAT exemption for energy . products
In this specific chapter related to energy prices, in addition to the immediate implementation of an Extraordinary Incentive Program for Energy Savings by domestic and industrial consumers, which includes immediate awareness campaigns and simplified economic incentives, the PSD wants that the plan be implemented on two fronts:
- In the immediate extension of the reduction of the Tax on Petroleum Products (ISP) and the suspension of the update of the carbon tax on fossil fuels until December 31, 2022;
- And in the immediate and temporary reduction of the reduced rate of VAT on fuel, electricity and gas that will be in force during the initial period of six months automatically renewable for an equal period, unless a parliamentary decision to the contrary is based on a reversal of price increases for those cumulative periods.
Fifthly, the Social Democrats also propose the allocation of 10 additional euros per month for all children and young people who receive the family subsidy between the months of September and December of this year. The measure, assures the PSD, would cover about one million children and young people and would have an estimated cost of 40 million euros.
In addition to these measures, the Social Democrats also defend the creation of lines of financial support for Private Institutions of Social Solidarity (IPSS) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), to face the increase in energy costs. This support would never be less than 100 million euros.
Still on this front, the party led by Luís Montenegro believes that one of the solutions lies in the creation, in the Development Bank, of a capitalization line for companies in the sectors most affected by the rise in energy prices, such as glass, metallurgy, and , plastics, ceramics, textiles, chemicals, steel, pulp, in order of €250 million.
Recognizing that the agricultural sector is one of the most affected by the crisis, the PSD also proposes the creation of extraordinary conditions for agri-food production companies so that they can cope with rising production costs. At the head, the Social Democrats defend the increase in the bonus in the final price of diesel used in agriculture, which translates into a reduction in 20 cents per liter.
Source: Observadora
