At a point where “a sea of people” has converged in central Porto to kick off today’s protests against the rising cost of living and the country’s desperate housing crisis, President Seguro has added his voice to the growing impetus for politicians to find some kind of fix.
By coincidence, this is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – a perfect moment for the country’s protests.
In a message published on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic to mark the occasion, President Seguro stresses that poverty “is not just an economic condition”, but “also a limitation on each person’s freedom, dignity and opportunities”.
“In a democratic society, no one should live without the means to meet their essential needs, without access to housing, healthcare, education or decent work. Poverty cannot be seen as inevitable”, he says, pointing out that “although, for the first time since 2015, the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion has fallen below two million, these figures should continue to challenge us. More than numbers, we are talking about people” – several of whom may be taking part in the demonstrations up and down the country today.
Seguro emphasises that Portugal’s current issues concern “children who have not yet had the opportunity to choose what they want to be”, “young people who cannot plan their future”, “older people who have contributed throughout their lives and who deserve to live their later years with dignity” and “people who work and who, even so, live in poverty”.
“Creating wealth and protecting those most in need are two sides of the same coin. A fair society requires everyone’s commitment to ensure that no one is excluded”, his message concludes. And this is the nub of the situation: a fair society – something many out on the streets today believe is missing, and must be wrestled back.
Only yesterday, speaking at a meeting of the Arraiolos Group in the Slovenian town of Brdo, the President warned that “a Europe in which so many young people cannot afford a home, start a family or believe that their work will allow them to live better risks losing the trust of the younger generations”, he said.
PS leader reinforces warnings over ‘rental reform’
PS leader José Luís Carneiro has used this moment of social tensions, to reinforce his warnings about the rental reform proposed by the government, opposed by left-wing parties – and ‘carried through’ to committee stages by CHEGA.
Carneiro’s opinion has always been that the law must be shelved, as it “will leave younger people less protected (…) families less protected and (…) plunge older people into uncertainty”.
The socialist leader today describes “a social powder keg”, clearly ready to explode if not handled carefully.
“We ourselves presented a solution, which is a law that makes it possible to stimulate the rental market, protect landlords and protect tenants. The government and the prime minister did not accept the PS proposal, but as can be seen, the PS was absolutely right”, he told journalists.
Source material: LUSA/ Presidência da República/ SIC Notícias