The coordinator of the Left Bloc, José Manuel Pureza, stated on September 9 that the prime minister, Luís Montenegro, thanks André Ventura for the "ride" of the motion of censure presented by Chega, considering that it allows the Government to divert attention from the increase in the cost of living. Pureza was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a visit to a student residence in Coimbra.
The motion of censure against the PSD/CDS-PP Government, presented by Chega against the maintenance of Luís Neves as minister of Internal Administration, was rejected on Tuesday with the abstention of PS, PCP, BE, and JPP, with PSD, CDS-PP, IL, Livre, and PAN voting against.
According to José Manuel Pureza, the motion had two objective effects: to ensure that Luís Montenegro would not dismiss Luís Neves and to give the Executive "a few more days" so that people talk "about something else." The Left Bloc coordinator criticized that neither the Government nor Chega intend to address the cost of living, noting that in the eight pages of the motion there was "not a single word" on the subject.
Pureza also warned that the European Central Bank's interest rates will rise, worsening mortgage payments, rents, and supermarket prices, and pointed to the maintenance of profit margins by major distributors and fuel companies. Regarding the extraordinary supplement for pensioners and tax relief announced by Montenegro, he considered it a "tactical exit" that will be "already eaten up by the effects of the interest rate rise," arguing that the Government should control prices and guarantee sustained increases for low wages and pensions.
