O problema português não veio de fora e não nasceu há dois anos

Financial Times (Lex, 23/03/2011):

No political party in Portugal wants to preside over a bail-out, but any new government must realise that a rescue will not address the country’s largest longer term problem: poor economic prospects. Portugal’s gross domestic product grew at only a 1.1 per cent annual rate between 2001 and 2007 – the slowest in the eurozone – while wages grew by 38 per cent. As Capital Economics argues, euro membership has given the country a “lost decade”. How different to Ireland, which suffered a damaging bubble. Ireland’s problem, however, is acute (a banking collapse), while Portugal’s is chronic. Austerity measures are necessary but temporary measures to address a short term crisis. It will take much bolder action to restructure Portugal’s anaemic economy.

O problema português tem um protagonista maior (o Partido Socialista) e um protagonista incomensuravelmente menor, embora não o suficiente para sair de cena (Durão Barroso).

O Partido Socialista e as suas mais histéricas figuras bem podem agora vociferar contra o PSD, contra a oposição, contra o PR, contra os mercados, contra o Dr Octopus e o Hammerhead. O disfarce e a máscara caíram. Check, please.