The coordinator of the Common Front, Sebastião Santana, stated this Saturday, October 11, that the State Budget for 2026 (OE2026) contains “serious political errors for the future of the country” and accused the Government of intransigence in negotiations with public administration unions.
“We found a lot of errors in the State Budget, but they are not writing or transcription errors, they are political errors for the future of the country”, declared Sebastião Santana, at a press conference in Lisbon.
“We know that the Government is right-wing, but we also know the path that guarantees the defense of public services and the appreciation of public work”, he added.
The union leader also criticized the executive for having postponed meetings with union structures before the delivery of OE2026 to the Assembly of the Republic and recalled that the next meeting is scheduled for October 15th.
Asked whether he believes there could still be changes to the budget proposal, Sebastião Santana admitted he had few expectations. “If we had been waiting for major changes, we would not have scheduled the strike on the 24th. This Government has demonstrated great negotiating intransigence. It arrives with one proposal and leaves with another that is very little different”, he stated.
The coordinator of the Common Front stressed that the general civil service strike, scheduled for October 24, will be “the necessary response to this budgetary policy” and “determining to force the Government to change course”.
“Workers will fight this policy. The Government has room to correct the measures, but it lacks the will”, he maintained.
Among the demands of the Common Front, Sebastião Santana highlighted the 15% salary increase for all workers, with a minimum of 150 euros, the revocation of the performance evaluation system and the guarantee of the public appointment bond.
“These are essential measures to value work and stop precariousness, which continues to grow in public administration”, he stated.
The leader also recalled that the union structure proposed a meal allowance of 12 euros and the updating of daily allowances and overtime payments, matters that, according to him, “the Government refuses to review”.
“The meal allowance is not our priority, but it is an issue that needs to be addressed. Cost allowances have been frozen for more than 15 years, and this is also a devaluation of work”, he noted.
Sebastião Santana also considered that the Government “fails to guarantee conditions to attract and retain workers in the State”, warning of the lack of personnel in several public services.
“It is not possible to continue working in the public administration with very low salaries, with an evaluation system that prevents progression and with precariousness growing”, he stated.
The union coordinator concluded by saying that OE2026 “does not respond to the needs of the population or those who work in public services”. “This is a budget that deepens inequalities and weakens the State. That’s why workers will fight”, he concluded.
The executive delivered OE2026 on Thursday, the day before the deadline and three days before Sunday’s local elections.
In the macroeconomic scenario, the PSD/CDS-PP Government predicts that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow 2% this year and 2.3% in 2026. The executive intends to achieve surpluses of 0.3% of GDP in 2025 and 0.1% in 2026.
The proposal will be discussed and voted on in general between October 27th and 28th. The final global vote is scheduled for November 27th, after the specialty debate process.