Miranda Sarmento defending moderate rent recalls Robles

The main topic of Joaquim Miranda Sarmento's hearing was housing, as he discussed the 2027 State Budget proposal. He emphasized government measures to increase housing supply but denied that rising prices were linked to these actions. Both current and former finance ministers faced scrutiny regarding public spending, with Sarmento defending the control of expenses despite a projected €6.2 billion deviation. He highlighted the importance of reducing public debt and maintaining fiscal stability while addressing the need for housing policy reforms. Sarmento criticized previous socialist governments for degrading public services and reiterated that increasing housing supply takes time. He argued that moderate rent policies could help stabilize prices and reduce rents above certain thresholds, countering claims that such measures would inflate rental costs. Sarmento concluded by referencing past political decisions impacting housing investment.