Brussels, 30/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 30 November, the Portuguese parliament passed a budget for 2012 that will make sweeping cuts in public spending to help the country (which is receiving international aid) reduce its debt and public deficit.
The Portuguese finance minister, Vitor Gaspar, told the parliament that it was the toughest budget since the country returned to democracy in 1974, but it was needed to win back the confidence of ordinary Portuguese people, the markets...