Risk allowance for police officers and increase in the minimum wage: this AR’s priorities | Assembly of the Republic

On the first day of the new Parliament, amid the changes of room and registration of new deputies, some parties made a point of delivering their first legislative initiatives, highlighting their priorities for the start of the 16th legislature. Looking at the 33 initiatives that entered the services of the Assembly of the Republic, there is convergence regarding the urgency of increasing the national minimum wage, the recognition of the State of Palestine, but also in relation to the attribution of a risk subsidy to the police forces – promise that marked the electoral campaign ― and the creation of a compensation circle in the legislative elections.

In total, BE delivered 16 legislative proposals, PCP ten, PAN delivered four proposals, Livre two and Chega one. PSD, PS and CDS did not deliver any legislative proposals at the start of this legislature.

Among the 16 proposals submitted by the blocist benches are some matters of agreement on the left (which only pass with at least 24 votes from the right-wing benches), such as the increase in the minimum wage to 900 euros (the PCP proposes an increase to one thousand euros); the implementation of an exclusive dedication regime in the National Health Service (proposal also submitted by the PCP) and the increase in pensions.

The blockers also proposed the creation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry into the actions of regulators (the Regulatory Entity for Social Communication) within the scope of the shareholder restructuring of the Global Media group, which includes TSF, the News Diary and the Newspaper; as well as the enhancement of Public Administration careers, proposing a negotiation process with the unions and structures representing these workers “with a view to increasing the salary of the general career of senior technicians in the entry-level position through an increase of 500 euros”.

Among the more than three dozen proposals submitted this Tuesday is also the attribution of a risk subsidy to the PSP and GNR equivalent to that of the Judiciary Police, a topic considered a priority by BE, PCP and Chega (having been the only proposal presented by the group of 50 deputies).

When presenting the package of ten legislative initiatives, Paula Santos stated that, “despite the obstacles that result from the composition of the Assembly of the Republic”, the PCP will have “enough strength to, through its struggle, defend rights, demand and obtain answers”.

The PAN, which elected only its spokesperson, highlighted four priority proposals: guaranteeing women’s rights, animal protection, environmental protection – with a draft resolution for compliance with the Climate Law – and the implementation of a circle national compensation in elections.

The Livre parliamentary group delivered a draft resolution for the Government to use the budget surplus to eradicate poverty, namely through measures “aimed at creating solutions to the main problems that are at its origin, such as housing, education, professional training and employment, as well as strengthening the benefits of the family protection subsystem”.

On the day that parliamentary mathematics was put to the test for the first time in this new Parliament, two parties – BE and Livre – proposed a reconfiguration of the current electoral system, having submitted two proposals for the introduction of a compensation circle in the legislatures, that allows smaller parties to have a greater correspondence between the votes and the mandates distributed.