German Finance Minister to postpone sanctions to Portugal – TVI24

The German Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, do not agree to be relieved rules to Portugal and Spain under the excessive deficit procedure, quotes Bloomberg.

According to the news agency, responsible believes that the relief decision will, as called for Portugal, the non-application of penalties for breaches of the deficit target – above 3%. – does not contribute to boost confidence

There is the same time as Centeno is showed confident about the Portuguese situation, the German counterpart said they were aware of the Commission’s recommendations in the specific case of Portugal and Spain, in order to give more time to these two countries, about a year, and that these recommendations ” go against European rules “.

” they have to first take a decision on the deficit. they can do it but there is no specific period during which it has to be done, “said Schäuble.

the statements Schäuble come two days before the president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, move to Berlin where he should meet Angel Merkel.

the invitation to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa visit the German capital, on 29 and 30 May (the date suffered a delay), he left his German counterpart Joachim Gauck but Marcelo should take advantage of the visit to raise awareness Merkel to the Portuguese situation.

Remember It was found that this year, the Chancellor has received a Portuguese leader:. Prime Minister, António Costa, who was in Berlin February 5

the European Commission decided last week to two months to that Portugal and Spain take further measures to correct the imbalance of public accounts before considering moving forward with possible sanctions. But the government did not get rid of a number of specific recommendations to follow from now on, in the areas of health, social security and transport.

Brussels will again assess the situation in July, after the marked Spanish elections at 26 June.

The President has come to say that there was only one delay decision by Brussels and that the country must wait quietly until July.

“Wolfgang Schauble does serious warnings to countries, nor any minister is serious warnings to any country. There are European institutions and are the ones who decide, “he said John Galamba reporters in Parliament after asked if the statements of the German Minister constituted a serious warning to Portugal.

“I find it strange that Wolfgang Schauble say that, because I remember Wolfgang Schauble in October say that this Government could not take the former path of success. it is with some strangeness and perplexity a finance minister says one thing and its opposite with a few months away, “added John Galamba.

the socialist spokesman challenged Schäuble to” explain these statements, “for” the way in which we could not seem divert is now a path with which Wolfgang Schäuble wants to fine Portugal. ”