The European Commission has released a report in which the authors have been delicate in expressing that Brussels is quite aware that Portugal has really been making very little effort at all in reducing the burdensome number of employees on the state payroll.
The financial overspend created by the lack of government payroll savings has been ameliorated by record tax receipts from the public but this was not part of the agreed Troika plan and Portugal's government needs to address this imbalance.
With the skill of a headmaster writing a report on a duff pupil to fee paying parents, Brussels gently noted that "the implementation of public administration reform is progressing, but with a slower pace and with a lower financial impact than originally expected."
This is reminiscent of Emperor Hirohito’s speech on Japan’s surrender in WWII “...the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage.”
The first evaluation of the post-programme 'Troika' period showed Brussels 'regretting the lack of effort' but stopping short of pointing out that government’s dithering when there are cuts to be made and its refusal to face up to the unions and thereby risk losing votes with an election coming up in 2015.
Comments
This is the truly scary bit. Reversing past achievements and no effective monitoring or evaluation of what should be happening to better Portugal.
Reminding ourselves that this is 'diplomatic speak'. So polite, discrete hints. Nothing from the Gorbals here.
And we also have another basket case at the other end of the Med, Greece about to melt down - again.
A good start to 2015 !