The parliamentary leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) spoke this Thursday, about the three measures announced in the Council of Ministers, where the Government gave the 'green light' for free prescription drugs, the increase in the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly (CSI) and the elimination of children's income as a factor for excluding CSI.

"We are looking at those who need it most, the most disadvantaged, as we had promised", the official said in statements to journalists, after speaking about retired pensioners, who were in the 'sights' of the measures announced by the Executive.

"Furthermore, having ended the condition of resources allows many families to see an injustice corrected today. For what? Always with the focus on people, on those who need it most so that they can have a more dignified life today. Men and women who worked throughout their lives and who had and have - unfortunately - very low pensions", he continued, arguing that the Executive was "correcting" the situation related to pensioners and retirees in Portugal.

Did the Government adopt a socialist measure? "I don't have the gift of divination yet"

In reaction to the measures announced by the Government, the parliamentary leader of the Socialist Party, Alexandra Leitão, considered that the Democratic Alliance (AD) went to the socialist electoral program to find the measure that eliminates children's income as a factor for exclusion in access to CSI.

"We note with appreciation that they have adopted a measure that we consider important, which is why we had it in our electoral program, unlike what happened with the AD", said the official, adding that the PS had already submitted a bill on the CSI in Parliament and scheduled a potestative debate on the subject for May 24.

Confronted with these statements, Hugo Soares considered that the PS had a potestative agenda "without a theme" and said: "I don't have the gift of divination yet. Neither me nor the Government. But let's be clear. I have already noticed the difficulty of the opposition. It is having difficulty being against the measures. I believe that more than being against, what was expected from the Socialist Party today is that it would come out and say that the Government is executing its programa, that the Government is Governing and applauding the measures that aim to protect the most disadvantaged - precisely what the Socialist Party, and this previous Government, failed to do in the last eight years", he said, pointing out that the socialist measures in recent years have not managed to "raise the level" of the CSI as happened this Thursday.

"The government of the Socialist Party told retired and pensioner people in this country that they had to choose between the medicines they took home when they didn't have the money to pay for them all. We have solved this issue once and for all. Today, pensioners and retirees in this country no longer have to choose which half of the medicines they take home", he said, referring to the unfairness of the condition of resources.

Hugo Soares also accused the PS of some "infantility", after considering it "strange" that those who governed for eight years put "a finger in the air and say: 'At the end of the month we were also going to propose that'".

The measure was not in the program, but it was "widely discussed"

Despite having stressed that the Government was "fulfilling" its program, Hugo Soares was confronted with the absence of the condition of resources in the AD's electoral program. When asked if this situation was not motivated by some attempt to take advantage or an attempt to get closer, so that the Government could approve measures in Parliament, Hugo Soares argued: "This was a matter widely debated during the electoral campaign. How many times have you heard the Prime Minister say that he was willing to end the unfairness. But if it wasn't just the current Prime Minister, the current Minister of Finance - as parliamentary leader of the PSD - spoke about this matter countless times".

Measures come into effect in June. "Electoralism"?

When asked if the Government cannot be accused of electoralism, since the measures will come into effect in June, the month of the European elections, Hugo Soares asked the opposition to understand.

"If the Government governs and does things it is because it is thinking about the elections, if it takes longer it is because it is a Government that does not do anything", he said.

And he added: "Do you want to accuse the Government of electoralism? It's the best accusation you can make against me as parliamentary leader".

"If accusing the Government of electoralism means that the Government has a priority, to govern for the good of the people, if that is electoralist, I want to make an appeal to the Government: that it always governs thinking about the elections, doing good for those who need it most, because that is the function of the Government", he said.

The Prime Minister announced today that the Government will increase, from June, the reference value of the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly (CSI) by 50 euros and eliminate children's income as a criterion for exclusion.

In other words, from next month the reference value of this benefit will increase from 550 to 600 euros and only the values of pensioners and retirees who apply for it will be counted.

[News updated at 4:38 pm]

Read also: Government approves three measures aimed at pensioners. Find out here (Portuguese version)