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 convergence plan. The Portuguese state might sell off its stake in Aeropuertos de Portugal, BNP bank (of which it has 100% share), the paper company, Inapa (32.7%), the Edisoft software company (60%), the defence enterprise holding company Empordef (100%), oil company Galp (8%), the EDP electricity group (25%), electricity network Red Electrica Nacional (51%) and the TAP airline (100%). (I.L./transl.fl)