Pedro Nuno Santos, Secretary General of the PS, criticized the government this Sunday, stating that in just six months, it has proven to be incompetent and untrustworthy. He argued that the executive failed at every moment it was tested.
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Speech at FAUL Congress
Pedro Nuno Santos made this statement during his speech at the Federal Congress of the Urban Area of Lisbon (FAUL), held at the Estoril Congress Center, saying:
Six months have passed, enough for us to realize that we have a Government that sells illusions, that presents PowerPoints, very far removed from the difficulty of doing, implementing, governing.
The socialist leader argued that governance is where the true competence of a government is measured, adding that, at every moment they were tested, they failed.
He emphasized that while many might continue to give the benefit of the doubt, it has become clear that the government lacks competence. Santos argued:
Six months is not enough. Enough for us to know that we have a government without competence and a government that cannot be trusted”
Examples of Government Failures
Pedro Nuno Santos provided several examples of areas where he believed the Government had demonstrated incompetence, starting with the Prime Minister’s April announcement of a €1.5 billion IRS cut. He said:
It didn’t take long for us all to find out that, of the 1.5 billion euros that had been announced to the country, 1.3 billion had already been decided and included in the State Budget by the PS Government.
The PS leader then turned to the housing sector, emphasizing that the Government had “promised to lower housing prices by exempting IMT.
He highlighted that the PS, when the measure was first announced, had immediately warned that it was a mistake, would be costly, and would ultimately lead to an increase in housing prices.
Furthermore, he criticized the Government for being ineffective in finding solutions to the problems of the country. He added:
So what happened? Much faster than we thought, prices started to soar again and completely swallowed up the IMT exemption, which the municipalities will not receive, but, even if they are compensated by the State Budget, the State Budget loses and there is no young person who has gained from this measure.
Pension Supplement and Health Care Issues
Pedro Nuno Santos then addressed the extraordinary pension supplement, highlighting that the Government announced it in a way that created the impression that their announcement at the Pontal festival represented an increase in pensions.
He said that:
We quickly began to realize that this was not an increase in pensions, but an extraordinary supplement for a month without any repetition. And many pensioners have not yet noticed and, when November comes, they will realize that their pension is exactly the same as September’s pension. This Government is not trustworthy.
The PS secretary-general also discussed the emergency plans for health and education announced by the executive. He pointed out that, in obstetric emergencies, there were 40% more services closed” this year compared to the previous year, and in schools, there are more students without teachers.
“Incompetent,” he criticized.
Critique of the State Budget
In his speech, Pedro Nuno Santos criticized the State Budget presented by the Government once again, emphasizing that it is not from the PS and that it is bad for what it has, but above all for what it does not have.
He also revisited the controversial meetings involving Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the leaders of Chega and the Liberal Initiative, André Ventura and Rui Rocha.
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The PS secretary-general argued that the Portuguese right is a mess and does not understand each other, describing their behavior as a shameful spectacle.
He further criticized Rui Rocha, sarcastically noting that he appears to know what happened during the meetings in São Bento. Santos criticized saying:
He tried to explain what was not discussed in the meetings and how many meetings there were not. The Liberal Initiative is no longer a party. It has become a praetorian guard of the Government and the Prime Minister.
PS Aims to Remain the Leading Political Force in Local Elections
The PS secretary-general stated that the party wants to continue being the country’s leading local political force. He accused Carlos Moedas of being a weak mayor who has not made any mark in the capital.
Pedro Nuno Santos declared:
Local elections are the high point of our democracy, of local democracy. The PS is the main local political force in the country and, in a year’s time, we want to continue to be the leading local political force in the country.
He added that it is no coincidence that his party holds this position, emphasizing that socialists understand that the best way to govern and manage a parish or local authority is by being with the people and truly understanding their needs.
That’s why the PS is the leading political force in local government, he said, before swiftly turning his attention to the situation at Lisbon City Council and delivering a sharp critique of Mayor Carlos Moedas.
Critique of Lisbon Mayor
He asked:
Six months are enough for us to evaluate a Government. What can we say about three or four years in Lisbon for us to understand the weak Mayor that the country’s capital unfortunately has?
The socialist leader stated that communication alone—how one communicates or provides access—does not define a good mayor. He emphasized the need for men and women of achievement who can deliver results and demonstrate their work.
Pedro Nuno Santos pointed out that the socialists in Lisbon understand this well, as they recently led the local authority. He urged a comparison between the current state of urban hygiene and the conditions during Fernando Medina’s tenure.
The PS leader urged everyone to see the difference in a capital that should exemplify hygiene but instead reflects a disgrace for all of us, especially for the residents of Lisbon. He expressed confusion over the Mayor’s self-assurance, saying,
If he walks the streets, he cannot be proud of his work.
Urban Hygiene Issues in Lisbon
The PS secretary general remarked that Lisbon is a city facing serious urban hygiene issues, an impassable city. He added that Moedas has failed to make a mark and lacks vision or a future for the city. He stated that:
And what do you have to present? You have to present some things, yes. They were not launched by him. All the houses, all of them, that were delivered in the city of Lisbon, none of them are his responsibility. They are from the PS, they are from António Costa, they are from Fernando Medina, they are from the PS.
The Future Mission of PS
Pedro Nuno Santos emphasized that the PS has a great mission ahead, urging collaboration with structures, militants, sections, and councils to win parishes and municipalities and transform Portugal into a great country.
Prior to his speech, Ricardo Leão, the president of FAUL, declared that the federation’s first major objective is to win the 2025 local elections while maintaining the majority of municipalities in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML).
The president of the Municipal Council of Loures said:
The PS already governs seven of the 11 municipalities in the AML, and it is our ambition to strengthen this position, consolidating the trust that citizens have placed in us.
