The People-Animals-Nature (PAN) party will abstain from voting, in general, on the State Budget for 2026 (OE2026) “as a sign of openness to dialogue”, warning that the final vote of its sole deputy will depend on “concrete measures”.
“The PAN – People-Animals-Nature party informs that it will abstain from voting on most of the State Budget for 2026, as a sign of openness to dialogue and constructive negotiation”, can be read in a statement sent this Sunday to Lusa.
The party, represented in parliament by the sole deputy Inês de Sousa Real, warns that it “will not give a blank vote” in the final global vote after the specialty process, as “its final position will depend on the inclusion of concrete and verifiable measures that respond to the priorities it has always defended – for people, animals and nature”.
“If there is no real progress, the PAN will reserve the right to vote against in the final global vote”, says the party.
Among the central matters that the PAN will bring to the negotiating table, the most notable are, in housing, the “creation of a housing cooperative program with public support, promoting affordable alternatives, especially for young people and families”, the reinforcement of funds from the National Urgent and Temporary Accommodation Grant.
In animal welfare, the PAN demands the “continuity of Zero VAT for the acquisition of pet food by animal protection associations” and the reinforcement of financing for the national sterilization campaign.
Regarding the environment and climate, the party wants to “commit to preventing fires and preserving the national forest”, with a 10 million euro pilot project to use artificial intelligence to prevent fires and access to the Municipal Emergency Fund.
The party also wants a “reduction in VAT on health and animal feed, and tax relief measures and direct support for families with lower incomes”.
The PAN considers that the approval of OE2026 “is not a given”, but rather “an opportunity for the Government and other political forces with a seat in the Assembly of the Republic to demonstrate openness to commitment and sensitivity to the social and environmental priorities that the country requires”.
Parliament will debate in plenary, between Monday and Tuesday, the Government’s State Budget proposal for 2026 for more than ten hours, culminating in the approval of the document in general, already guaranteed by the abstention of the PS.
After the general vote on Tuesday, the specialized assessment begins the following day, at the Budget, Finance and Public Administration Committee (COFAP), with hearings of all ministers and also some institutions and bodies such as the Court of Auditors, the Economic and Social Council and the Public Finance Council.
The hearings end on November 7, the day that also marks the end of the deadline for parties to present their proposals for changes to the document.
Then, from November 20th to 26th, there will be discussion in the plenary session in the morning and votes at COFAP in the afternoon, with the closing and final global vote scheduled for the 27th.
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