LISBON: Portugal’s opposition Socialist Party (PS) on Tuesday ruled out its backing any move on the part of the right-of-centre government to save €600 million by trimming the pensions of people who have already retired.
The position was announced by a deputy chairman of the parliamentary party, Vieira da Silva, who accused the government of trying to “hide behind the PS” by seeking consensus on fresh cuts to pensions.
“We shan’t align nor shall we be partners in this saving of 600 million euros,” said Vieira da Silva, himself a former social security minister. “We shall also not be partners in this new version of the war between the generations that is being stimulated by the government, with a view to setting young workers against pensioners.”