PM Montenegro Presents Government Program to Portuguese Parliament
PM Luis Montenegro, June 17, 2025. X/ @expresso
June 17, 2025 Hour: 10:36 am
Among his priorities are strengthening resources for crime prevention and ensuring the effectiveness of criminal justice.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro presented his administration’s program to the Portuguese Parliament, which will debate its various proposals. This year, he will work to add 1,500 new police officers, reform the Nationality Law and the Foreigners Law, and reduce income tax revenue.
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Among his cabinet’s priorities are also investing in the authority of security forces, strengthening resources for crime prevention and ensuring the effectiveness of criminal justice.
“In this regard, by the end of the year, we anticipate the deployment of around 1,500 personnel in the Republican National Guard and the Public Security Police, of which 70% will be guards and officers and 30% will be officials, sergeants and chiefs,” Montenegro said.
In the coming days, he will approve a proposal to revise the Nationality Law and reform the Foreigners Law to restrict entry into the country through family reunification and streamline the repatriation of illegal immigrants. He will also propose creating a foreigners and borders unit within the Public Security Police.
In the next few weeks, the Council of Ministers will decide on a reduction of more than 500 million euros in the Personal Income Tax (IRS) for this year, Montenegro said and emphasized cutting bureaucracy, making the state more efficient, and simplifying procedures.
In foreign policy, Montenegro confirmed that Portugal will continue to strongly support Ukraine and seek to increase defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP). He also aims to secure a seat for Portugal on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term.
Montenegro noted that his program includes 80 proposals from opposition parties and expressed his willingness to engage in “constructive dialogue” with other parties, as he intends to complete the four-year legislative term.
The prime minister’s only reference to fighting corruption came when he outlined the 10 key points of his program, despite his previous government collapsing after losing a confidence vote in March. That vote was prompted by reports of a company owned by Montenegro’s family receiving payments from firms linked to his past work.
After losing the confidence vote, Portugal held early elections in May, in which Montenegro’s coalition won, increasing its lawmakers from 80 to 91. The far-right party Chega, meanwhile, secured 60 seats, and the Socialist Party won 58.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE