Over the weekend
Expresso
«Troika blames government for failure of policies», wrote Expresso on Saturday, after Minister of Finance Vítor Gaspar presented the conclusions of the international lenders’ seventh quarterly review of Portugal’s bailout programme, with the majority of results failing their targets. According to the weekly, the coalition government failed to come up with a workable proposal to cut €4bn in public expenditure, and the EC-ECB-IMF troika is now accusing it of being unable to explain the measures to the Portuguese and being responsible for the negative results for insisting in carrying out the adjustment by increasing revenue.
Monday
Público
«BES sells bonds to major clients without abiding by rules», reveals Público, as the Portuguese bank bypassed the limitation of interest on deposits and offered high interest rates to major clients through operations based on contracts which neither follow the rules nor are transparent.
Correio da Manhã
«Gaspar has taken 13% of citizens’ wealth», reports Correio da Manhã, as the daily publishes a study of how much the Minister of Finance is responsible for taking away from the Portuguese since 2011, as austerity has already cost the country some €21.8bn.
Diário de Notícias
«Civil servants’ bonuses targeted by Gaspar», reveals Diário de Notícias, as trade unions are to receive a government study this week which compares the salaries of the public and private sectors. According to the paper, the tax authorities have already said they want to revise the pay rates. Also according to the daily, on average the bonuses increase salaries by 12%.
Jornal de Notícias
«Mafia-style agency defrauds minimum income», reports Jornal de Notícias, as nine people have been charged for crimes of corruption and fraud against Social Security. According to the daily, a Romanian couple discovered a loophole in the Social Insertion Income scheme and with the help of employees at Gaia City Council and the postal services set up a mafia-style ring to help others defraud the state.
i
«PSD and CDS already admit political crisis if Constitutional Court rejects state budget», writes i, as the coalition government is awaiting for the high court’s ruling on the state budget for 2013 and is already fearing the onset of a political crisis with the opposition, with some ministers saying the country could become ”ungovernable” if the decision is negative as there is not much imagination to come up with alternative measures.
Diário Económico
«State starts laying off less qualified from June», reports financial daily Diário Económico, with the first phase of negotiated terminations affecting administrative and auxiliary staff, whose salaries are the lowest in the public sector. The financial daily also reports that the public debt forecast for 2014 is 123.7% of GDP.
Jornal de Negócios
«Government wanted higher deficit target for 2014», reports financial newspaper Jornal de Negócios, as the government failed to convince the EC-ECB-IMF troika to accept a public deficit target higher than 4% for 2014, following a longer-than-expected bailout assessment. The financial daily also reports that the Eurogroup this weekend approved the extension of the deadline for part of Portugal’s bailout loan.
A Bola
«Marítimo helps Benfica’s bid for title», writes A Bola, after FC Porto and Marítimo drew 1-1 on Sunday in the 23rd round of the Portuguese League, helping Benfica stay ahead in the run for the title.
Record
«Red carpet», writes Record, as Benfica routed 10-man Guimarães 4-0 to extend its lead of the Portuguese League.
O Jogo
«Formula quatro», writes O Jogo, referring to the four goals scored by Benfica against Guimarães on Sunday.