The Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro noted political, economic, and financial stability as a prerequisite to respond to the internal and external challenges the country is facing.

At the opening of the fortnightly debate in Parliament, he claimed that the capacity to respond to the storms and the international crisis is based on a balanced management of public accounts and sustained economic growth.

Luís Montenegro indicated that the country recorded high employment levels, a drop in public debt and a rise in income, stressing that these factors enable the adoption of measures to assist households and companies without compromising financial stability.

The Prime Minister also noted the role of the reforms under way in the areas of the State, labour, education, health, housing, and mobility to boost competitiveness in the economy and create more opportunities.