The PS/Azores modification proposals to the region’s Plan for 2023, which sought the implementation of a Social Emergency Plan and the elimination of the “Nascer Mais” program, were rejected this Thursday by the Regional Assembly.
The initiatives had 30 votes against (from PSD, CDS-PP, PPM, Chega, IL, PAN and independent deputy) and 27 in favor (of the PS and the BE), in the vote of the Azores Plan for 2023, which takes place in the parliament of the Azores, in Horta, Faial island.
In the debate, on the Social Emergency Plan, budgeted at 46.2 million euros, Carlos Silva, from the PS, said that the party “is concerned” about the “economic and social crisis that affects families and regional companies” .
“It is necessary to do more to help the difficulties of the Azorean people,” he defended.
The vice president of the Government of the Azores (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM), Artur Lima, accused the PS of “responsibility” and “irresponsibility” for presenting a proposal that, “in good socialist fashion, throws money away”. . problems without criteria”, warning that “it is not worth anything to return to power.
I am absolutely amazed by this proposal to change the PS. We are facing the largest social budget ever presented in the Azores, by a right-wing government. A Budget with a conscience, responsibility to help those who need it most”, declared the minister, who watches over Social Solidarity.
The PSD deputy, António Vasco Viveiros, considered that the Plan and Budget presented by the Regional Government “respond to the needs of families and companies” and criticized PS for “creating drama”considering the proposed amendment a “political maneuver.”
For his part, the liberal deputy Nuno Barata appealed to “responsibility”, considering the socialist initiative “irresponsible”, while José Pacheco, from Chega, criticized the previous PS governments that were a “shame” in social matters .
The leader of the PPM/Azores, Paulo Estêvão, condemned the “hypocrisy” of the PS, since the Socialists voted against the Plan in general, while Rui Martins, of the CDS-PP, praised the social nature of the Plan and Budget for 2023 , describing socialists as “preachers of doom”.
For the PAN, representative Pedro Neves defended that the PS proposals should not have been voted on en bloc, to avoid a “total distortion” of the Plan.
The independent parliamentarian, Carlos Furtado, revealed that he would vote against all the proposed amendments because the “the matter is too serious to be analyzed in half a dozen hours”in reference to the deadline for delivery of the initiatives that ended at 1:00 p.m. this Wednesday.
According to the documents to which the Portuguese agency had access, among the eight proposals to modify the PS/Azores Plan and Budget for 2023 was the elimination of the Nascer Mais program (which supports 1,500 euros, to be allocated to the pharmacy, each child born in the municipalities with the greatest population loss), negotiated between the Executive and Chega.
Regarding the 46.2 million of the Emergency Plan, the PS/Azores allocated 18.7 million to families, of which 10 million to a supplement of “single attribution”, amounting to 65 euros per adult and 40 euros per dependent, for those who have “gross monthly income up to and including 2,700.00 euros”, is described in the proposals made available on the website of the Legislative Assembly.
At the beginning of the work this Thursday, a general vote was approved, with 30 votes in favour, the Regional Annual Plan for 2023, of the PSD, CDS-PP, PPM, IL, Chega, independent deputy (ex-Chega) and PAN , and 27 against, from PS and BE.
Source: Observadora
