PS will ask the IMF to analyze UTAO consumption forecasts and Brussels – publico

                 

                         
                     

                         

                 

 
 

Now that is completed the technical phase of preparation of the state budget proposal for 2016 and enters the political stage as classified socialist Carlos César, the PS will ask the UTAO – Technical Unit of Budget Support to review the forecasts of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Commission on the evolution of private consumption, which are “more conservative” than those of the Government.

President of the socialist benches, Carlos César said on Thursday in the early afternoon in Parliament that there are opinions of various external bodies such as the IMF and the European Commission (and this specifically in their winter forecasts) that are “discordant” in which the government signed in proposed budget. The difference lies mainly in the evolution of private consumption, an indicator that is “crucial in the analysis of the deficit and the GDP”.

At the same time, one of the “comments benchmarks” of UTAO noted that the “forecasts the increase in private consumption made by the Portuguese Government were too conservative.” “But this means that the forecasts of the European Commission and the IMF, which are based on previous data and that does not take into account this budget, even more conservative are” considered Carlos César, announcing the request of the PS to the UTAO also analyze .

Although confident, Carlos César was more cautious and less expansive that António Costa on Wednesday afternoon and believes it will be a proposal “very well received at home and internationally.” It stressed that the document, which is to be approved by the Council of Ministers continues “an important effort to approach the budgetary indicators resulting from obligations under the European Union” while “respect its commitments to the parties that support the government. “

Asked whether the budget is or not completely closed given that the European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici, in charge of budgets, maintains that there is still no agreement between Brussels and the Portuguese executive, also president of the PS said that the phase of “technical work involving the Commission and the Government is now complete and the developments observed in this phase were very positive.”

Now it’s time for “phase of political decision” he added, referring to the approval by the Council of Ministers, the delivery of the document in Parliament on Friday morning, and even the European Commission’s decision is also announced on Friday afternoon. “We are confident that this decision will be a decision as and accommodate the budgetary solution that we propose.”