Lisbon, Oct. 9, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, on Friday dismissed the idea of «systemic risks» of financial crises in other European Union member states, but stressed that Portugal has the «moral authority» to demand compliance with budgetary rules.
«There is no point in making a drama out of this. We are not in a position to say that there are systemic risks in the financial behaviour of some European Union member states,» the Prime Minister said today in parliament during the preparatory debate for the European Council, which is due to take place on the 15th and 16th.
«But we have the moral authority to demand that the European Union ensure its commitment to budgetary and financial rules, because we have experienced first-hand the cost of correcting a deviation that was having such consequences some 15 years ago,» he emphasised.
Montenegro was responding to MP Manuel Magno, of the Chega party, who argued that Europe is under «two swords – the financial and the energy one» – and questioned the prime minister about the impact of crises in other member states, notably in France.
«It is not just the French example; there are others. There are member states with very significant debts and very substantial deficits too,» commented the prime minister.
Montenegro expressed concern that «certain actors and political parties are advocating for Portugal certain policies that are being implemented in those countries and which are the source of the budgetary imbalances now being mentioned».
European Union leaders are meeting next week in Brussels for a summit at which they will discuss responses to the rising cost of living and seek to reach consensus on «the fundamental elements» of the next EU budget (2028–2034).
The next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) dominated much of today's debate with the Government.
The prime minister noted that the Commission's objectives for the next budget include increasing investment in defence, boosting economic competitiveness and promoting the energy transition.
«It is not possible to do this with the same resources. Clearly, adding new challenges and areas for intervention also requires the necessary funding,» he commented, responding to PS MP Eduardo Pinheiro.
Montenegro warned against the possibility of Portugal losing tax revenue.
«The only thing I can say regarding the proposals put forward by the Commission is that we must prevent member states – and in Portugal's case – from ceasing to collect, particularly in tax matters, the tax revenue currently in force in our country, so that it can be channelled directly by the European Union. This happens in various sectors. It happens in the digital sector, it happens in the gambling sector, and it happens in the tobacco sector,» he said.
«Of course we have this concern; we are open to it, but only to the extent that we are not penalised,» he warned.
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