Portugal’s socialists have come under fire for proposals that would see pensioners pay for their plans to ‘turn the page on austerity’ if they are elected in general elections in the autumn. “There is an alternative, it’s possible to turn the page on austerity and have better economic results,” Socialist leader Antonio Costa said, Reuters … Continue reading
Jorge Costa, MP, Portugal’s Bloco de Esquerda, interviewed ahead of the party’s Congress, 10-11 November, 2012 The Bloco Congress will be an opportunity to take stock of a year of intervention of the Troika in Portugal. We live in a Greek scenario: a recession with uncontrolled deficits in the public accounts, record unemployment, serial corporate … Continue reading
Portugal has become the first European country to approve the EU’s fiscal compact, known to critics as the ‘permanent austerity’ treaty. The country’s parliament made the move Friday, and also approved the European Stability Mechanism – the much derided long-term ‘bailout’ fund. Portugal is one of three eurozone countries to be ‘rescued’ by the EU … Continue reading
The Socialist Party (PS) asks the Social Democrats (PSD) and (Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) to pretend that tomorrow there will be an addendum that everyone knows that will never exist, in exchange for the certainty of a treaty today that everyone knows is harmful. The PS wants to save face, not to protect jobs. [Former … Continue reading