President gives his increase to Arnoia and ventures to Matosinhos
At the time, November 2024, the government approved a 5% increase in the president of the President of the Republic, the government, the deputies, the mayors and the other public administration officials, and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa manifested against the idea, but said it would not spoke the budget because of that point. «This is a point in the middle of a budget, but would have preferred to be applicable only to the future mandates of the holders of political positions and not already to the ongoing mandates»he explained then. Now, confronted by SunriseMarcelo acknowledges that he has never enjoyed a cent of this increase and that every month they arrive at the Holy House of Mercy of St. Bento de Arnoia, Celorico de Basto, the respective 650 euros. Noting that he would rather not advertise his gesture, he eventually explained the reason for choosing the institution of Arnoia. «In these very small entities, the life is very small, and my contribution gives them a way. But I don’t get in the management area. I have been a leader and now I am a brother or associate, as it is called. I give what I get the most, which are 650 euros, until the end of my term, on March 9, 2026 ».
With family roots in Celorico de Basto – from where his paternal grandmother was natural – and where he exercises his right to vote whenever elections, Marcelo thought before deciding on the Holy House of Mercy of Arnoia: «I was thinking where it was to be? It is more important in a small center, in a small municipality, than in Lisbon. I find it preferable to give to school or high school where I was a student ».
The President of the Republic is also known for his altruistic side and many people help. In Cascais, where he lives, there is no shortage of stories of people Marcelo has supported financially, as well as in the academic environment. « I helped students throughout my life and continue to help, and I am associated I do not imagine how many institutions, because it was many, and now as President of the Republic I am associated with many and many social solidarity institutions».
The touch of cash in the arrival
If Marcelo said to accept the law, and the respective increase of 5% – «If the law is in force, respecting the law»He said, then, « André Ventura, the arrival leader, soon made a point of refusing the increase, demanding all deputies of his parliamentary bench to follow him in the gesture. Accused of populist, the arrival leader proved indifferent and led to his forward. «My 5% go every month to AA KASTELO, an association in the middle of nowhere, which I visited twice and made me very impressed»tells our newspaper. Kastelo has a continuing and palliative care unit for children from zero to eighteen, as can be read on the institution’s website.
According to the data provided by the arrival, all deputies are ‘obliged’ to donate the increase, in the order of 119 euros, to a charity, and have no big chance of escaping the rule, as the donations are ‘sent’ by the party itself. In the list provided, the body that receives the most money from the party deputies are the Association Support to Life, nine donations, followed by Kastelo, five. For those who have the image that arrives does not like animals, can be surprised by the three ‘donations’ for the association The Friends of Animals of Almada – one of the deputies ‘contributors’ is Cristina Rodrigues. The Aboim Ascension Refuge Association in the Algarve also has three ‘friends’ of the arrival. Then, following the list provided, it is clear that some deputies give the 119 euros to institutions with some geographical proximity, such as the Cabo Ruivo firefighters or the Parish Social Center of Baguim.
With the new legislature in sight, André Ventura guarantees to our newspaper that future deputies will not be able to enjoy the 5%. «As long as I send it to arrival let’s abdicate the increase».
But what is the reason for this gesture so connoted with populism? Ventura answers: _« As long as all the cuts that were made in the time of the troika are not replaced, in terms of compensation, and social rights, we should not have this increase. ». It is certain that everyone receives the increase in their salary, and then forced to ‘give it it’, some unwillingly to charities.
