The general increase in wages is the central issue that appears everywhere today. It is in the public sector, it is in the private sector.
Workers are here demanding a fight against the rising cost of living, no one can bear anymore the rising cost of living. It is a very fair demand.
These people make the country work, create wealth, make the economy work. There is wealth created, there are profits and there is money, what is needed is for it to be better distributed.
The State Budget corresponds to an orientation contrary to what these people here demand.
Because it is a State Budget that, amidst much confusion, gives more than 1,600 million euros in tax benefits to large companies. Those who make 25 million euros in profits per day. Or it serves the banks that already have 12 million euros in profits per day.
The Government made a choice. The increase in pensions was rejected. The cut in the price of the transport pass, to 20 euros, as we tabled, was rejected. The repeal of tax benefits for economic groups and the increase in funding for the National Health Service was rejected. This is the key issue.
These people are all pressed, with very short wages for the long month they have, making brutal sacrifices to be able to afford their house, taking into account the increase in interest rates, and then the banks, with 12 million euros of profits per day. This cannot continue like this. A change of course is needed.
As we have been saying, another policy is needed.
What I hope is that there will be more MPs from the PCP and CDU because this is a condition to force this dialogue that has not existed.
This is the big issue, that there are more MPs from the PCP and CDU because that's what will determine the political course from the 11th. onwards, the rest is just to keep us distracted, with scenarios after scenarios that have no materialisation whatsoever, unless we reinforce it with more MPs and more votes, and these people will certainly provide that strength.
