The announcement was made by António Costa during the fortnightly debate that took place yesterday in the Assembly of the Republic, in response to Livre's sole deputy.

"From tomorrow (Thursday 19 October) the Council of Ministers will approve the decree-law on the application of unemployment benefits to victims of domestic violence", stated the Prime Minister.

Rui Tavares questioned the head of Government about the 2022 “budget commitment” regarding the extension of unemployment benefits to victims of domestic violence, regretting that the measure has not yet been implemented.

“We are not going to the 2024 budget without solving a problem that comes from 2022 and 2023. The last time we spoke about this issue, the Prime Minister told me that it was in the legislative circuit, what are we waiting for? A decree-law from the Council of Ministers that finally tells the victims that we are not letting another month pass for these people, another month is a month between life and death”, stated the sole deputy.

Rui Tavares highlighted that this measure is “absolutely essential”, maintaining that victims of domestic violence are often subject to financial dependence “which does not allow them to rebuild their lives”.

After stating that “many people lose their jobs when they try to rebuild their lives and free themselves from domestic violence”, Livre's sole deputy considered it “unacceptable that Social Security is not on the person's side”.

In his speech, the deputy also referred to the State Budget for next year, arguing that it is “completely legitimate that the debate about what to do with the surplus be carried out in the most inclusive and participatory way possible, including in Parliament”.

Rui Tavares challenged the Government to discuss “a commitment to equity and investment” every year regarding what should be done with the budget surplus.

“Paying public debt, yes, but not only that. Public investment, alleviate the burden of work with a progressive tax reform, respond to the social emergency, and discuss all of this in the Assembly of the Republic”, he defended.

At this point, the Prime Minister indicated that the Government is taking this debate to Parliament in the budget proposal for next year and that he decided to do so “very inspired by a question” that the deputy put to him in a debate about what to do with the balance.

“What we proposed, I believe, is a responsible balance with our future as well as today”, he argued, maintaining that “part of the balance is reserved to reinforce the Social Security financial stabilisation fund”, because “it is necessary to continue to diversify sources of financing in order to guarantee its future sustainability”.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the creation of a “new fund dedicated to investment” to “prepare for post-2026”.

“When the PRR [Recovery and Resilience Plan] ends, and in the uncertainty of what the next financing framework will be in an enlarged Europe, it is essential that the country begins to create a fund that supports the continuity of public investment after 2026 ”, he indicated.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the debt reduction, indicating that, at the same time, the Government wants to respond to the social emergency and reinforce public services that “are fundamental pillars of the social state, such as public schools or the National Health Service”.