Portugal faces a new cycle of economic pressure on families, driven by international instability and rising energy prices. The war in the Middle East, with a direct impact on the oil markets, worsened a reality that was already being felt: more expensive fuels, essential goods on the rise and an increasing difficulty in maintaining financial balance on a daily basis.
But it is important to say clearly: not everything can be explained by external factors. Portugal continues to be one of the countries with the highest tax burden on fuel, maintaining a 23% VAT at a time when prices are reaching high levels. This political option worsens the impact of the crisis and directly penalizes families and companies.
The increase in fuel prices does not stay at the gas pump. It spreads throughout the economy. Transport becomes more expensive, production becomes more expensive and the end result is inevitable: prices rise on supermarket shelves and in the general cost of living. It is a chain effect that demands an immediate response.
Given this scenario, extraordinary measures must be adopted. The reduction of ICMS on fuels by 10%, for the intermediate rate, is a necessary decision to directly relieve consumers. This is a measure with an immediate impact, which reduces the final price paid by families and gives some breathing room to companies most dependent on energy and transport.
This reduction must be temporary in nature and be evaluated every six months, following developments in the international context. We are not facing a permanent policy, but rather a responsible response to an exceptional situation.
But intervention cannot be limited to energy. The impact of this crisis is also reflected in the basic food basket, where the increases have been particularly felt. Therefore, the application of VAT Zero to a set of essential goods, such as bread, milk, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, is once again considered a fundamental measure.
Already tested in Portugal, this solution has proven to be effective in containing prices and supporting the most vulnerable families. In a context of food inflation, it is not just an economic measure, but a social justice decision.
What cannot continue to happen is for the State to benefit from rising prices through the tax burden, while the Portuguese see their purchasing power decrease. In times of crisis, balance is required: the State must alleviate, not worsen.
Comparison with other European countries is inevitable. Spain and Italy have already taken steps to reduce taxes on fuel and essential goods. Portugal cannot be left behind, nor remain trapped in a logic of inaction.
The truth is that the country’s vulnerability also results from choices accumulated over the years: high energy dependence, lack of structural measures and a fiscal burden that remains even in adverse contexts.
It’s time to act pragmatically. How much does the State benefit in taxes from these cost increases? Reducing ICMS on fuels and applying ICMS Zero to the basic food basket are concrete, effective measures and adjusted to the current reality. More than ideological responses, these are decisions that make a difference in people’s lives.
At a time when the cost of living continues to rise, the priority must be clear: protect families, support businesses and ensure no one is left behind.
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