State budget draft held together percariously by wires

The vice president of the CDS-PP bench, Cecilia Meireles

The State Budget for 2016 "is held together by wires" 

because it does not explain "where the money will come from." 

The vice president of the CDS-PP bench, Cecilia Meireles, argued today, 

that the draft state budget, demonstrates a financial year 

"percariously held together by wires,", 

and that part of the growth prospects, 

are unparalleled in national or international organizations.

"We have a state budget that does not match any provision 

of any national or international organization, 

and it is very important that the Government explain why. 

We have a state budget, held together by wires, 

never, ever explaining where the money will come from," 

summed up, Cecilia Meireles, at a press conference in Parliament.

Cecilia Meireles wants Mário Centeno, the Finance Minister, 

to explain how he calculated the "negative impact on the economy" 

of the planned tax on all petroleum products, 

which the prime minister, António Costa, 

said would be neutral on the Portuguese economy, 

because petroleum products prices have been declining.

"And if oil prices rose again 

and cause an increase in petrol and diesel prices, 

will the tax remain? 

Or will the Portuguese middle class have to pay 

for the favours given to the communist party? she asked.

The CDS-PP also has questions about the cuts 

that are not specified in the draft? 

"Are there cross-cutting or selective cuts in some departments 

and not in others? 

Will there also be cuts in the Ministry of Health? 

Will these cuts apply to schools, 

universities, and medication? ", she asked. 

Cecilia Meireles also attacked what she considers 

the "social rhetoric" of the Government, 

stating that the budgetary impact of measures 

such as the solidarity supplement for the elderly listed in the draft is 0% 

and all other social benefits in general decrease.

The CDS also want to know if there´s a new funding strategy 

by the Government, 

intending clarification on interest payments, 

particularly the repayments to the IMF.

The centrists also want Mario Centeno to clarify 

what the impact of the measures will be in 2017, 

as some of the measures will only be felt in full in that year, 

such as the lowering of the VAT in restaurantes, 

the replacement of the wages of the civil service workers and the TSU.

A giant mess of increased taxes, 

irrealistic forecasts, 

completely unsustainable budget calculation, 

with EU Commission already alarmed, 

foreign investors leaving the country,

warnings of over-optimism, 

while foreign markets are treading on fine ice, 

Portugal seems hell-bound on yet another 

bankrupcy and international bail-out, 

disregarding all the suffering and hardships 

of the Portuguese in the last 4 years.