« It’s a lie that we need to spend more money on weapons »

The first face to face this Tuesday was between Pedro Nuno Santos and Mariana Mortágua, under the legislative elections.

About the war

The first theme was about the war. The PS secretary general began to say that, on the investment of defense, and for a socialist government, « it is unthinkable » that the investment in this notebook « put our social state, our NHS, our public pension system, our public school, » says Pedro Nuno Santos.

The PS secretary general added that the investment in defense must be taken advantage of to “modernize and industrialize” our economy and recalled that Portugal is “far” from the goal of 2% of GDP to the defense.

« A government led by us is not on the sidelines of European effort to increase the expense in defense, but will do everything to make this increase progressive, do not question the social state and assumption of responsibilities at European level. »

In turn, Mariana Mortágua made it clear that “if there is money and there is, he has to go to public services”, because “lack of money in health, in housing.

The BE Coordinator also said that « if we want to protect democracies, this is where we should spend money, » and that « safety and sovereignty » is « in controlling energy infrastructure, airports and digital infrastructure. » Another thing is to invest in weapons, buy more weapons, and it is here that the EU heads, « Mortagua said.

The bloquist added that the EU « no more weapons » to defend itself even to support Ukraine, « says Mortágua, noting that the block is an exporter of weapons.

« It’s a lie that we need to spend more money on weapons, it’s propaganda » and « it’s a lie that Europe, and Portugal, is at the imminent risk of being invaded. »

« Who thinks that building weapons and building weapons is a future project, because they want to send their children to war, » he said.

Recession?

About a possible recession, and questioned about whether there will be promises of the socialist program that may fall, Pedro Nuno said that « waiting no » because « the program that the PS presented has a value of 1700 million euros. »

In turn, Mariana Mortágua argued that the government and EU are « attacked » in the face of Donald Trump’s « unprecedented attack » and that sectors should be evaluated in which US imports can be replaced.

About housing

The debate turns to the housing page. The secretary general recalled the socialist government’s public housing program and emphasizes that « some of the inaugurations of houses that Montenegro and Pinto Luz have made are houses that were launched by us, by a program I launched, the first right. »

Already Mortágua, on the same subject, argued that, « while people cannot afford their home, there are real estate funds in Portugal with profitability above 2000%. »

The blocker added that while the PS and PSD discuss inaugurations, « the prices of houses that people are now paying in Portugal increased 9% by 2024 » and that, although public construction is « very important », this « is not done in time ».

In this sense, Mortágua referred again to the need to lower income with the lace and states that, in the Netherlands, with a socialist government, these measures and proposals were approved.

On the other hand, Pedro Nuno argued that a posture such as the block in relation to rent can have negative effects, by eventually decreasing supply and increasing informality in the market.

About Immigration

Regarding immigration, the bloquist states that the party « does not give in » the « a basic prince »: « who is in Portugal should be able to regularize and this is how we integrate people. »

“The PS is abdicating this principle,” says Mortágua.

« We watched the government to overcome the line of what is acceptable in the Republic, with another shameless propaganda action and attack on the previous government in a matter where it is possible to build consensus, » Pedro Nuno said.

« What the PS defends is a regulated immigration, which not only respects those who are already here, respects who comes. »

On governance

At the end of the debate, the PS secretary general states that “there will be an alternative to AD if the PS wins these elections” and appealed to the last vote.

« I want to ask the Portuguese people, and the voters who vote for the left so as not to disperse votes, because today we could have a PS government if there had been no dispersal of votes we had a year ago. »

Mortágua says that « first place does not determine anything, » and explains: « We had the first place of the absolute majority. The PSD was ahead and that did not prevent instability. »

Pedro Nuno Santos “is saying when he says he wants to be the most voted and that he expects a PSD viability that he has a silver bullet. And that the silver bullet of Pedro Nuno Santos is Luís Montenegro. He is waiting to rule with the support, or at least with the feasibility of Luís Montenegro”, he shot.

Already asked if there is availability of BE for an agreement with the PS, Marina states: « There is always ».