World News Insights
1-3 Minute Gist

All Topics Article

Government Sees Deep Recession Ahead for Portugal

New York Times Original article ›

Keywords:

LyrArc Article Gist
Jurgen Kroger, is the chief negotiator for the European Commission, and Poul Thomsen, heads the IMF negotiating team, for the 78 billion euros in loans extended to Portugal under a bailout agreement. Kroger offered his views on the agreement in Lisbon. Kroger said he was convinced that the program gives Portugal the means to boost growth and jobs, as it builds a sustainable and competitive economy. Two thirds of the loans come from the EU at an interest rate that is yet to be set. The yield on Portugal's 10 year bonds keeps rising and is now at 10.20%. The IMF will provide one third of the funds. The IMF's Thomsen said the issue of interest rates was addressed by arranging for two thirds of the loan package money coming in the first of the three years of the program. What this does is to take Portugal out of the markets for medium and long term debt for a "little over two years" he said and gives Portugal the "breathing space" it needs to restore credibility before going to the financial markets. The fear expressed by analysts is that the tough austerity measures in the programs of the EU and IMF can cause the economies of these countries to worsen, making it even harder to repay the much larger debts when the loan package money is added to the original debt. The IMF and the EU negotiators had to create a credible program for recovery in the light of these facts. Already Portugal's finance minister is predicting a contraction in the Portuguese economy of 2% in 2011, and 2% in 2012. The negotiators appear to have taken this into account in setting interest rates. Portugal will pay the IMF an interest rate of 3.25% for the first 3 years, with the rate going to 4.25 in the fourth year. By comparison Greece's loans are for seven years with an average interest rate of 4.2%. Ireland's seven year loans carry an interest rate of 5.8%, which it is working to renegotiate. To give Portugal more breathing space the terms of the loans set a slower reduction in the budget deficit than originally planned. Portugal gets to cut its budget deficit to 5.9% of GDP in 2011, and 4.5% of GDP in 2012. The 3% target is set for 2013, one year later. Economists such as Carl Weinberg of High Frequency Economics, say the loan package will only increase Portugal's debt and lead to a larger default later on when the debt amount owed is larger. The debt restructuring solution is being actively debated in the EU, including the risks that European banks would take large hits. Negotiators are also mindful of keeping any negative impact on Spain as low as possible. As Portugal's financing costs have risen, Spain's have risen also. Spain offered higher rates to sell 3.4 billion euros of five year bonds on May 5, with the average yield on Spain's bond sale rising to 4.55%, up from 4.39% on March 3.

Actions taken by EU leaders in 2011-2012 to resolve the debt crisis in member countries.

02/26/2011

Actions taken for Ireland, Greece, Portugal and other countries facing debt problems.

Grouped Articles

Policy ‘Troika’ for Europe Financial Woes at Odds

New York Times 06/07/2013

Ireland Shows How to Ski Down the Debt Mountain

Wall Street Journal 09/28/2015

European Debt Deal Has Flaws - News Analysis

New York Times 03/14/2011

Portugal Pays Higher Yield at Bond Sale

Wall Street Journal 03/16/2011

Europe Needs to Apportion Pain

Wall Street Journal 03/17/2011

Portugal under siege: The winter of living dangerously

Economist 02/26/2011

The loan deal Portugal negotiated with the EU and the IMF in May 2011.

09/27/2010

The terms of the loan deal and the problems negotiators faced in coming up with a deal that will give Portugal the breathing space to it needs. The economy is expected to contract 2% in 2011, and 2% in 2012. As a result the defict as a percentage of GDP target of 3% was set for the third year in the three year program, instead of earlier as originally planned. The IMF loan interest rate was set at 3.25% for the first 2 years. Portugal's weakness in competitiveness and in its educational system means Portugal badly needs this breathing space.

Grouped Articles

Portugal's Government Thrust Into Turmoil

Wall Street Journal 07/03/2013

Lisbon Cabinet Shuffle Buoys Junior Coalition Party Leader

Wall Street Journal 07/08/2013

Portugal’s President Calls for Early Elections

New York Times 07/11/2013

Portugal Unveils Toughest Austerity Budget Yet

Wall Street Journal 10/16/2013

Economic Report Supports Socialists’ Policy in Portugal

New York Times 09/27/2010

Portugal's public finances: The apology of Sócrates

Economist 10/23/2010

Portugal's austerity measures and the financial crisis 2010-2015

09/27/2010

Collapse of the government in Portugal in 2011, after failing to win support for further austerity measures.

Grouped Articles

Portugal Unveils Budget Cuts

Wall Street Journal 05/03/2013

Portugal Returns to Bond Market

Wall Street Journal 05/08/2013

Portugal Plans Cuts in Spending

Wall Street Journal 05/30/2013

Portugal's Government Thrust Into Turmoil

Wall Street Journal 07/03/2013

Lisbon Cabinet Shuffle Buoys Junior Coalition Party Leader

Wall Street Journal 07/08/2013

Portugal’s President Calls for Early Elections

New York Times 07/11/2013

Why Portugal is different from Greece in 2012-2013, and yet may find its debt unsustainable as the economy shrinks- the situation in 2012-2013

04/30/2010

Portugal is taking vigorous steps without social unrest, including spending cuts that will stabilize the deficit, labor reform, and increasing exports through trading links to Africa and Latin America. Portugal needs to borrow about 10 billion euros in 2012 and the ratings downgrade has hurt Portugal by raising rates on new borrowing to about 20%. The economy is expected to shrink by 3% in 2012.

Grouped Articles

Ratings Gag Is No Joking Matter

Wall Street Journal 07/12/2011

Greece Gets New Bailout as U.S. Nears Brink

Wall Street Journal 07/22/2011

Portugal Returns to Bond Market

Wall Street Journal 05/08/2013

Idea of Euro Exit Finds Currency in Portugal

Wall Street Journal 05/27/2013

The Next Global Problem: Portugal

New York Times 04/30/2010

Portugal Emerges From Recession

Wall Street Journal 08/15/2013

The EU-IMF loan deals with Greece, Ireland, and Portugal compared 2010-2013

05/27/2010

Grouped Articles

EU Dismisses IMF's Criticism On Greek Bailout

Wall Street Journal 06/07/2013

Greece Can Learn IMF Austerity from Turkey

BusinessWeek 05/27/2010

Past Rifts Over Greece Cloud Talks on Rescue

Wall Street Journal 10/07/2013

Ireland Faces Seventh Year of Austerity

Wall Street Journal 10/16/2013

Athens's Love Affair With the Euro Persists

Wall Street Journal 11/04/2013

IMF Warns Eurozone That Greece Needs Far More Debt Relief

Wall Street Journal 07/15/2015


Support LyrArc

We took a different way to help millions around the world build educated informed mindsets that affects and shapes their lives. For a future that is open, global and digital, with everyone having access to high quality information. We believe in the renewal of America, renewal of Europe, the renewal of India, the rest of Asia, Latin America and Africa. The renewal of our supply chains, health, education, infrastructure, as we rebuild our countries after the pandemic. Literacy and knowledge we believe cannot thrive and grow in a world of web bots, web crawlers, or AI. This requires human curiosity, human learning, and human imagination. We take as inspiration the saying- “One has to be free, and as broad as sky. One has to have a mind that is crystal clear, only then can truth shine in it.” Every contribution whether big or small is precious- in this crisis and ahead.

Support Lyrarc from as small as $1


Copyright © 2006 - 2026 Intelilinks LLC
Terms and Conditions | Copyright Policy | Privacy Policy | Contact Us