The general secretary of the PS, António Costa, considered this Saturday that a referendum on regionalization cannot be avoided because there are fears of listening to the Portuguese, reacting to the opposition of the PSD leader to this consultation.
“We have to complete the process because there is an urgent need to move to the next regionalization referendum,” Costa said, adding that it was important to “integrate CCDR.” “We are already a few centimeters away from closing the decentralization agreement,” the prime minister also noted.
“I can’t help but do [o referendo] because you are afraid to listen to the Portuguese. I even understand the position of the PSD, because in fact, in recent years, every time the Portuguese were heard, they only said what the PSD did not like to say to the Portuguese,” António Costa said in a speech he delivered at the opening of the meeting of the National Commission PS, which takes place in Illava, Aveiro.
According to António Costa, “this is of fundamental importance for the country and citizens” and the goal is to “identify problems, solve them and move forward.”
“In view of the temporary possibility” one should not refrain from “doing what must be done.” António Costa stressed that in 2024 the parties are obliged to “assess whether it is appropriate” to listen to the Portuguese about the regionalization process.
At the end of the SDP’s 40th congress last Sunday, the new leader of the Social Democrats, Luis Montenegro, said that the 2024 referendum was “inadequate” due to the serious international situation and the very serious economic and social consequences. reach the Portuguese.
He also warned that if the government decides to move forward, it will do so without the support of the SDP. A few days later, after an audience with the President of the Republic, Montenegro extended its opposition to the referendum until the end of the legislature’s term in 2026.
Today, for more than ten minutes, the Socialist leader spoke about state reform and decentralization, saying that it was a “battle of the PS.”
“We are carrying out the largest decentralization reform that has ever been carried out since the establishment of democratic local government in 1976 and brings huge benefits to the population,” Costa said, adding that he was “inches” from being able to close the decentralization agreement.
“We will have to close the agreement because it is important for the country and the citizens to have a National Health Service, a public school and a welfare state that makes decisions more efficiently and quickly because it is closer to the Portuguese,” he said.
Costa felt it necessary to complete this process in order to begin the second phase of the reform of the state’s regional administration, with the integration into the Commission for Coordination and Regional Development (CCRD) of “attributes currently under the control of regional administrations.” about the government.”
“We are really going to move forward in the process of creating regions that will be strong and able to respond to the needs of the population,” he stressed.
Author: Lusa as well as morning Post
Source: CM Jornal
