Brussels has sounded the alert over the Portuguese government’s draft budget for 2020.
Explain reports, the European Commission has requested ‘urgent explanations’ as the spending plan “only includes political measures already adopted” none of which address the need for further structural changes.
Taken as it stands, the draft represents much too much in the way of public spending, explains SIC television news, saying the Finance Ministry has refused “for now” to comment.
Other reports claim EC moneymen have already sent a letter through the finance minister Mário Centeno saying they want an ‘updated document’, addressing the draft budget’s failings, sent through to them “as soon as possible”.
The government will now have 90 days in which to present a more detailed draft budget.
The situation stems from the fact that the deadline for presenting Portugal’s spending plans followed recent legislative elections which have involved a great deal of ‘behind the scenes’ organisation getting the minority government the ‘back bench’ support it will need for the next four years (click here).
