Lisbon, Sept. 18, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese Social Democratic Party (PSD) parliamentary leader on Friday accused the leader of the Socialist Party (PS), José Luís Carneiro, of advocating an economic policy in response to the crisis that was «geared towards the polls», whilst the leader of Chega accused Carneiro of «hypocrisy and dishonesty».

Speaking during the urgent debate in parliament on the cost of living, called by the PS, Hugo Soares addressed PS leader, José Luís Carneiro directly: «Your economic policy is a mistake; your economic policy is welfare-based; your economic policy is designed with the polls in mind; your economic policy is designed with votes in mind.» «Our economic policy is geared towards the country and future generations,» argued the Social Democrat, warning that «there is no room for both strategies within a single budget; they are not compatible».

The PSD's parliamentary leader considered that the PS leader's choices differ from  «PS economic policy» and noted that figures such as former ministers of finance Fernando Medina and Mário Centeno advocate proposals that «are diametrically opposed to his own».

«When he wishes to come to Parliament – with every right to do so – to present his proposals, he should first see if he can build a consensus within the PS; it is a sad spectacle we witness every day, with those who wish to succeed him in that chair contradicting his economic policy. He has to convince them first,» Hugo Soares retorted.

The leader of Chega also took aim at the PS, accusing José Luís Carneiro of «hypocrisy and deceit» for saying «that VAT on fuel needs to be lowered», yet having announced he would vote against Chega's bill to that effect, which is due to be voted on next week, referring to the ‘brake rule' [the limit prohibiting MPs and parliamentary groups from tabling bills that increase expenditure or reduce revenue in the current state budget].

André Ventura argued that «there is no ‘brake rule' holding José Luís Carneiro back; what is holding him back is a despicable agreement with the PSD» and accused the Socialists of seeking to «deceive those from whom they are seeking votes» and of being «a puppet of Brussels».

In response, the PS leader accused Chega of having acted in recent months as «a smokescreen that has prevented scrutiny of the Government's handling of the crisis» and maintained that his statements were «accurate».

Carneiro advised Chega to read the Constitution, specifically the article on the ‘brake rule', and considered that the «effectiveness of a party that succumbs to populism and demagoguery is to postpone aid to the Portuguese people until January 2027», the date the party proposes for the fuel VAT cut to come into force in the motion due to be put to the vote next week.

During the debate, the IL leader referred to the income tax cut announced by the prime minister, arguing that «a relief of €5 per month for those earning €1,500 will not solve the problems», and accused Luís Montenegro of being «adrift, handing out taxpayers' money without criteria, without vision, without direction and without effectiveness».

Mariana Leitão also accused the PS of trying to «deceive the Portuguese people» and stated that «the PS's school of mediocrity is alive and well, has a new disciple, and the middle class will continue to be punished».

The CDS-PP argued that the response to the rising cost of living «must be serious and responsible and cannot serve as an excuse for a frenzied competition between the two largest opposition parties to see who is the champion of irresponsibility or the champion of demagoguery».

On the left, calls were made for the Government to take further measures to address the crisis.

Livre asked «if the crisis is generating additional revenue for the State, what proportion of that margin will be used to protect those who are losing purchasing power».

The PCP advocated price controls on essential goods or the rejection of interest rate rises, whilst BE and JPP called for the introduction of zero VAT on the food basket.

During this debate, there was another incident between André Ventura and the speaker of parliament, after the Chega leader asked to make a statement in defence of his group's honour, which José Pedro Aguiar-Branco refused, as the rules of procedure grant this right only to the leadership of each parliamentary group.

Aguiar-Branco advised Chega to read the Rules of Procedure and paraphrased André Ventura, saying «this isn't a free-for-all; there are rules».

The speaker of parliament warned that during this legislative session he would be «very strict» regarding the use of procedural motions, «so that parliamentary debate takes place and remains within the rules of the Rules of Procedure» and asked the parties to «specify which rules of procedure are being called into question by the speaker, rather than making vague references to whatever the speaker says or does without any basis in the rules of procedure» Ventura even threatened to walk out of the plenary session – which he did not do – and the defence was made by Chega's parliamentary leader, Pedro Pinto.

FM/AYLS // AYLS

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