Socialist Party MP, Isabel Moreira, has been taking it easy in parliament during the debate on the 2019 State Budget taking place in the Assembly of the Republic.
Finance Minister, Mário Centeno, today opened the debate on the financial proposals for next year which already have the support of the PS, PCP, BE, PEV and PAN.
Isabel Moreira thought this a good opportunity to paint her nails, as captured below in the picture taken by Reuters’ reporter, Rafael Marchante.
After Mário Centeno, Pedro Siza Vieira, Deputy Minister of Economy and Planning will address the assembly, followed by Pedro Marques, the Minister for Infrastructure.
After a general vote, the discussions will move on to analyse the various budgetary headings with each minister answering questions on their particular area.
Then there will be a presentation of proposals for agreed amendments. Lastly, the final vote will be held on November 29th after a debate which will end with an address by the Prime Minister, António Costa.
The budget is pitched to win votes in the election year, with Costa looking likely to gain an increased majority that should enable the Socialist Party to shed its reliance on the left wing support from the Communists and the Left Bloc.
Costa oversees a growing economy, led by a booming tourism sector and helped by low unemployment, thus reducing State spending.
With the notable exception of Portugal massive borrowings, leaving its finances at risk should interest rates rise, the key give-away is a rise in State employee wages.
Indirect taxes will go up, especially for smokers and car owners, with the Finance Minister aiming for a budget where income and expenditure are in balance.
One area that may well spoil this perfect score, is further requirements for the State to throw more taxpayers money at the banking sector, notably the continued refinancing of US-owned Novo Banco and the residual support costs for BPN and Banif.
Isabel Moreira at the 2019 Budget debate (Reuters)
