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PS leader proposes tax cuts while Cavaco slams Chega

Friday, 27 March 2026AI summary
📍 Viseu🏛️ Government⚖️ Legal#chega#government-policy#political-stability
PS leader proposes tax cuts while Cavaco slams Chega
Photo: Expresso

At the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) congress in Viseu, leader José Luís Carneiro proposed 0% value-added tax (Imposto sobre o Valor Acrescentado or IVA) on essential food and a reduction to 13% for fuel. Meanwhile, former President Aníbal Cavaco Silva criticized the theatrical discourse of Chega and urged Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to maintain distance from the party. Tax-paying residents should note these proposals aim to address the rising cost of living linked to international conflicts.

Update: Carlos César re-elected PS president amid internal list challenge

Carlos César was re-elected as president of the PS with 89.9% of the vote as the congress continued in Viseu. While the party leadership remains stable, former MP Ricardo Gonçalves presented an alternative list for the National Commission (Comissão Nacional), challenging the use of single lists. Party members should note that the meeting concludes on Sunday with the final election of national bodies.

Context & Explainers

What is the PS political party?

Socialist Party (PS)

  • Leader: José Luís Carneiro (since June 2025)
  • Ideology: Center-left, Social democracy, pro-Europeanism

Portugal's other traditional major party suffered a historic collapse in the 2025 election, dropping from 78 to 58 seats and falling to third place for the first time in democratic history. The party was led by Pedro Nuno Santos from January 2024 until his resignation following the May 2025 defeat. José Luís Carneiro, a 53-year-old former Minister of Internal Administration known for his moderate positioning within the party, was elected unopposed as the new Secretary-General with 95% of votes in June 2025. ​ The Socialist Party governed Portugal from 2015 to 2024, including an absolute majority from 2022 to 2024 under António Costa, who resigned in November 2023 amid a corruption investigation. The PS previously led the innovative "Geringonça" (contraption) coalition government from 2015-2019, a minority government supported by the Left Bloc and Portuguese Communist Party that reversed austerity measures and presided over economic recovery.

Aníbal Cavaco Silva is a former Prime Minister (1985–1995) and former President of Portugal (2006–2016) from the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD). He led the country during its early years in the European Union and is known for his focus on economic stability and modernization. As a senior political figure, he remains influential and recently criticized the lack of credibility in newer political movements like Chega.

Carlos César is the President of the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) and a candidate for re-election to the position. He was the President of the Regional Government of the Azores (Governo Regional dos Açores) for 16 years between 1996 and 2012. Those following political news should note that while the Secretary-General leads the party, the President acts as a senior representative and moderator.

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