News channels were buzzing on Wednesday (November 13) with reports that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had stiff words for Portugal.
The Fund’s chief spokesman in Portugal, Subir Lall, has publicly rapped deputy prime minister Paulo Portas for his “irrevocable” resignation over the summer – which Portas quickly revoked – saying it “prejudiced Portugal and its return to the markets”.
And he’s drawn a line in the sand for the Constitutional Court (expected to challenge the government’s latest austerity plans for next year’s State Budget), saying any alternative measures would “be much harder on the Portuguese people”.
“We have not yet discussed a Plan B with the government,” Lall warned, stressing that whatever might be suggested “would be less adequate for the recovery of the Portuguese economy”.
The IMF added that Portugal’s full return to the markets may now not happen during 2014 – and even then, the country will need the support of the EU.
