Housing: Government will consider all contributions, including from the president

The Prime Minister, António Costa, said this Saturday that the Government will consider all contributions from the public debate on the measures announced for housing, including those from the President of the Republic, admitting to withdrawing or adding materials.

António Costa was speaking at a joint press conference with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, during the 28th Ibero-American Summit, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which at that moment was almost finishing its work.

Asked whether the Government will take into account the views of the head of state on the housing package, in particular the mandatory lease of vacant houses, the prime minister replied that the measures were put up for public debate precisely “to listen to suggestions, to listen to criticism” before “making a final decision” in the Council of Ministers, which will take place on March 30.

“Therefore, when we put it up for public debate, we obviously assume that the debate can suggest changes, in the sense of removing things that are, in the sense of adding things, of better explaining the things that are, of better regulating things that are” , reinforced.

The Prime Minister pointed out that, “in this case, there are hundreds of contributions, namely from the President of the Republic – but also others, several institutional, written opinions, from the National Association of Municipalities, the Lisbon Association of Owners, the Association of Tenants of Lisbon, from several municipalities”.

“Therefore, there are multiple contributions. We will naturally consider everything to ensure what is fundamental, which is being able to have the strongest support for families”, he said.

António Costa listed as objectives of this Government package to help “pay rents and housing benefits”, with measures already enacted by the President of the Republic, and to ensure that there is “more housing that is accessible to Portuguese families”.

“There are several ways to do this,” he noted. The prime minister referred that “the public debate ends only at the beginning of next week” and that “the Council of Ministers will once again discuss the set of opinions that have been expressed, the contributions that have arrived, the amendment proposals that have appeared in the next 30th”.

“Only at that time will we then present a draft law that will go to the Assembly of the Republic and some matter that can be dealt with by means of a decree-law, which in this case will be sent to the President of the Republic”, he added.

* Sent from the Lusa agency