In Braga, at the PCP's traditional Christmas dinner, the regional director of the communists' DOR-Braga accused the PSD, PS, Chega and IL deputies elected by Braga of a «pseudo attack of amnesia». João Batista referred to the fact that «when they arrive in Lisbon, they forget the commitments made to the population of the region».
In a day of conviviality and sharing – which brought together João Oliveira, member of the Political Committee of the PCP Central Committee and deputy to the European Parliament, and Inês Rodrigues, from the National Directorate of JCP – the regional leader recalled «the Braga – Guimarães railway connection, the construction of a new surgical wing at Braga Hospital, the new inter-regional and intermodal pass, the completion of the Variante do Cávado. «Claims that have received approval at the local level by these parties, are later rejected in the Assembly of the Republic, as happened this week with the disapproval of the respective proposals presented by the PCP Parliamentary Group in the Assembly of the Republic», said the leader.
The elected member of the CDU in the municipality of Braga also addressed the attempted “secretariat veto” that is taking place regarding the replacement of extinct parishes in the municipality of Braga, confronting the will of the population and local authorities.
Inês Rodrigues welcomed the struggle of young students and workers. The young communist also said that the JCP Congress will be held on the 17th and 18th of May, under the motto “In our hands the new world”, it shows that the youth have a Party and are organized, with strength and courage, to intervene in the world today.
JOÃO OLIVEIRA AND THE GOVERNMENT LEADS
It was up to João Oliveira to make the closing speech. The PCP leader highlighted the importance of his party's action and initiative in the difficult times the country is going through, in the serious and dangerous times the world is experiencing.
The worsening of the war, with genocide in Palestine, the escalation in Ukraine with the risk of direct confrontation between nuclear powers, also resulting from the decision of the European Parliament and the governments of the countries that make up the EU to fuel this escalation, were highlighted, along with the global and national economic situation, «marked by the worsening of inequalities and injustices, poverty and social exclusion».
João Oliveira said that people “know from their own lives that salaries and pensions are low and that life is difficult”.
«This Friday, while the workers outside the Assembly of the Republic were precisely demanding salaries, rights, respect, careers and professions, inside the hemicycle the State Budget was approved», he recalled.
For the communist MEP, the Budget “should respond to the needs of workers and the people, those who create wealth and make the country and the economy work. The Budget should guarantee dignity for those who have worked their entire lives. The approved Budget does not serve this social majority but the small minority of explorers and economic groups».
He recalled that PSD, CDS and PS «disapproved the increase in pensions by 5%, at least 70 euros for more than 2 million retirees and pensioners, but approved the delivery of 1800 million euros in tax benefits to a handful of companies» . And he went further: «they disapproved of access to retirement without penalties after 40 years of work and discounts, but they did not even blink at continuing with criminal privatizations and the handing over of strategic companies to foreign capital. They failed the reduction in bank payments and rents as well as the reinforcement of the public housing supply but approved 1700 million euros in benefits for non-habitual residents. Not only did they fail the employment of precarious workers in the public administration, and the increase in meal subsidies, they also enshrined the rule of no more workers to reinforce public services. They disapproved of the creation of the public daycare network, the increase and universality of the salary bonus, but approved more than R$1.5 billion to be handed over to public-private partnership concessionaires. They disapproved of the exclusive dedication of professionals but approved the diversion of around half of the SUS budget to private economic groups that make the disease their main business. They failed the reduction of VAT to 6% on electricity, telecommunications and gas with what that would mean in the lives of the majority of the population, they failed the setting of the gas bottle to 20 euros, but they came together for another scandalous reduction in IRC that goes straight to the big companies».
João Oliveira highlighted the holding of the XXII Congress of the PCP, which will take place on the 13th, 14th and 15th of December.
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