The socialist government also plans to provide direct support to families and increase pensions, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said at a news conference. In concrete terms, every Portuguese who earns up to 2,700 euros gross per month will receive 125 euros, plus 50 euros per child.
The plan was given the name ‘family first’ and consists of eight measures. The government is releasing 2.4 billion euros (about 10 percent of the country’s GDP) and that amount is on top of the 1.6 billion euros in aid that has already been disbursed until September.
“It’s been thirty years since we’ve seen such a sharp and sudden rise in the cost of living,” said Costa. He said caution is needed not to create a spiral of inflation.