As Europe left struggles, Portugal’s alliance wins over voters and Brussels Reuters – WBNews

Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa speaks during a biweekly debate at the parliament in Lisbon, Portugal, March 22, 2017. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante/Files LISBON While the European left is largely struggling where it holds power, Portugal’s government alliance stands out as a remarkable exception; it is raising wages and gaining popularity and yet delivering the lowest budget deficit in living memory. The unlikely alliance of centre-left Socialists and two far-left parties has overcome deep scepticism since it was formed in 2015, achieving stability and maintaining economic recovery at a time of political uncertainty across Europe. Even President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative, acknowledges its running of a country that left an international bailout programme only in 2014. “I have been surprised,” he said in February. “Frankly, I didn’t think it would be as resilient as it has shown itself to be in the past year.” The government is a minority Socialist administration rather than a coalition, with the party filling all ministerial posts. However, it relies on support from the Communists and Left Bloc for its parliamentary majority, breaking a taboo that had kept the far left out of power since the 1974 return of democracy. Portuguese are warming to the government as it unwinds some austerity polices imposed under the bailout, although this comes at the cost of heavy cuts to longer-term public works spending. Prime Minister Antonio Costa has acknowledged the balancing act. “Budgets can’t be managed with miracles, they are managed with rigour, hard work and careful management,”…more detail