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Latest update: 13/12/2010
- Economic crisis - eurozone - Portugal
Europe's debt crisis: Portugal under pressure
Will Portugal be next? As the finger-pointing continues, the country is scrambling to avoid its fate as prescribed by the markets. Investors are almost certain Lisbon will follow Athens and Dublin and be next in line for an EU/IMF bailout. So is Europe on the right road to ending the crisis? Or are we facing bailout after bailout? Is the euro, and the European Union itself, under threat?
A debate with Laura Baines and guests:
José-Manuel LAMARQUE, Co-Producer of Transeuropéenne on France Inter (French public radio)
Ana NAVARRO PEDRO, Paris Correspondent for Visao (Portuguese weekly)
Jacob Funk KIRKEGAARD, Economist and Research Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (by phone from Washington)
Programme prepared by Yi Song and Perrine Desplats


































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2010
macroeconomic indicators for 2010
public deficit:
Ireland: 32%
Britain: 12%
Portugal: 8%
Spain: 7%
public debt:
Ireland: 110%
Britain : 80%
Portugal:80%
Spain:40%
there you go. tell me where the difference is. RATIONALLY. Then tell me why the rating's agencies give the uk AAA ratings, Ireland AA and the keep downgrading Portugal and Spain. In that , you will find the answer to the current crisis. It's called DISCRIMINATION.
In the words of a famous Englishman: "Take a look at the lawmen, beating up the WRONG guy, oh man, I wonder if they'll ever know, they're in the best selling show!"
People are eyeing Portugal because it's easy, but the core countries in Europe are as indebted as Portugal (this includes France). Why the media refrains from talking about it, is somethng that is so hard to understand!
Leave Portugal alone
The data for 2010 should be mentioned: Portugal deficit: 7.3% , Ireland 32%, Greece 14% (France, UK around the same as Portugal). The markets are just feeding on the easy preys. Leave Portugal alone