JPP Demands Face-to-Face Talks with Albuquerque for 2025 Budget Discussions

JPP's Firm Stance on Budget Discussions

The Secretary-General of Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP), Élvio Sousa, has responded to a call from Jorge Carvalho regarding the preliminary discussions for the 2025 Regional Budget. Sousa insists that any meetings must be led by Miguel Albuquerque, emphasizing the necessity of having both the Parliamentary Group and the Political Commission of JPP present.

“As we have counter-proposed in similar initiatives,” Sousa stated, highlighting that the meeting's success hinges on Albuquerque's attendance. He further noted that without this condition, there are no grounds for changing the party's stance from when the Regional Government made a similar request in June for the 2024 Budget.

Regional Government's Availability

Sousa's remarks come after the Regional Government expressed its willingness to meet with various parties to negotiate the approval of the 2025 Budget, with discussions scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday at the Regional Assembly.

However, Sousa points out that this sudden concern from the Regional Government follows a week where Albuquerque criticized JPP's technical capacity and resources. He expressed that this lack of respect and diplomacy undermines the dialogue process.

No Secret Meetings

JPP firmly rejects any secretive meetings and insists that should such meetings occur, they must be led by Albuquerque, accompanied by the Political Commission of JPP and the Parliamentary Group. Sousa emphasizes the importance of maintaining a sense of state and responsibility between voters and elected officials.

Timing of Meetings Questioned

Moreover, Sousa criticized the timing of these proposed meetings, which are set just before the parliamentary discussions begin, suggesting a lack of transparency as direct invitations have not been extended to parties, prioritizing media announcements instead.