Carlos César assures that transfers for the Azores will not be affected by the PEC
The President of the Government stated on Tuesday afternoon that the Azores have demonstrated their solidarity with the adoption of restrictive measures in Portugal, when necessary, but he also stressed that “we are an example in the management of public finances that should be considered.”
Carlos César – who was received by the Prime Minister José Sócrates at an audience also attended by the Minister of Finance, Teixeira dos Santos, which was integrated in the assessment of the measures envisaged by the Stability and Growth Plan (PEC) drafted by the Government of the Republic – stressed the idea that the Azores responsibly manage their resources and, thus, they do not “contribute to the poor financial situation that has affected Portugal.”
Hence, the Region – despite demonstrating its solidarity to all the Portuguese people – cannot not be cruelly sacrificed as a target of the containment measures stipulated in the PEC for that reason some aspects regarding the implementation of these measures were safeguarded at the meeting with the Prime Minister, such as the maintenance of transfers, under the Finance Act of the Autonomous Regions of 2007, at the current level estimated by the Budget for 2010, during the enforcement period of the Stability and Growth Plan.”
Another aspect relates to the use of debt by the Azores. With regard to this matter, according to the President of the Government, we must take into account its reproducibility, that is, cases in which the use of debt is deemed necessary to the subsidisation of community investments or in exceptional circumstances. “The issue of indebtedness will be addressed as before, since the additional funding sources estimated by the Regional Budget have been guaranteed.
With regard to the privatisation programme, Carlos César revealed that he explained to José Sócrates the role played by the public service missions of some public sector companies in the Azores, such as the cases of TAP and ANA, the latter one this with estimated investments on Faial and Flores, which will not be affected.
After the meeting, Carlos César stated that the country must know the responsibility level of each political force and institution in the achievement of these essential goals and criticised PSD and CDS for criticising an alleged lack of measures to combat the deficit and, simultaneously, the adoption of these measures.
“It is essential that, at the Assembly of the Republic, the parties defending the reduction of the deficit and the implementation of measures to enhance economic growth should clarify their position through a clear voting, based on a motion that will be presented with the main guidelines of the Stability and growth Plan.”
For the President of the Government, “the moment of truth has come and, therefore, PSD and CDS cannot stick to the meat, leaving the bone to PS and the government. All must assume their responsibilities.”