The parliamentary leader of PS, Eurico Brilhante Dias, accused the AD Government (PSD and CDS) of living at the expense of taxpayers, pointing to more than one billion euros in revenue resulting from the increase in fuel prices since the coalition took office in March 2024. According to data presented by the socialist, since that date, gasoline has become six cents more expensive per liter and diesel nine cents more expensive. The leader considered this is a moment when Portuguese people need support, as happened in the past with the autovoucher and ISP reductions.
The reaction of Eurico Brilhante Dias came in response to accusations made by the PSD secretary-general, Hugo Soares, who on September 5, on the sidelines of the PSD political comeback party in Ponte de Lima, said that the PS leader, José Luís Carneiro, is "badly accustomed" and "living in the past," referring to the previous socialist Government led by António Costa. Hugo Soares even stated that José Luís Carneiro would be "lying deliberately" or "unprepared," although he said he preferred to believe the socialist leader is not lying on purpose.
Eurico Brilhante Dias repudiated Hugo Soares's accusations, stating that "PS is not like Chega" and that "it does not use lies to do politics." The socialist parliamentary leader underlined that José Luís Carneiro only highlighted facts that other commentators and political leaders have been stating and that were confirmed in Parliament. Eurico Dias reiterated that if PS were governing, fuel would be cheaper, and criticized the Government for not supporting consumers in the face of rising prices.
Last Friday, PS presented in parliament a resolution proposal to reduce fuel VAT and reiterated the zero VAT proposal for a basket of basic food products. According to the leader, these measures are intended to support Portuguese people in a moment of shock, at a time when fuel prices are having a cross-cutting impact on the Portuguese economy. The Automobile Club of Portugal estimated that diesel prices should increase by 15 cents and gasoline by 12 cents next week, with gasoline possibly exceeding 2.20 euros at many fueling stations.
