Wave of privatisations in Portugal. - As part of its austerity plan the Portuguese government has announced a vast privatisation programme aiming to raise €6 billion by 2013, including €1.2 billion for the 2010 tax year alone. The money raised is aimed at reducing the public accounts deficit, which accounted for 9.3% of GDP last year and bringing the deficit progressively down to 8.3% this year and 2.8% in 2013, below the 3% threshold set by the European Commission as part of the...