ポルトガルの財相の辞任
ポルトガルの財相の辞任が発表された。理由は明らかにされていないが、継続する超緊縮政策への不満の声が日増しに強まりをみせてきていることがその原因とみられている。ポルトガルは２年前に７８０億ユーロのベイルアウトを受け、その条件として超緊縮財政の遂行をほぼ「強制」されている。しないと、ベールアウトが打ち切られる。
この財相は政治経験がなく、ＥＣＢに勤務していた人物で、２０１１年６月の選挙の後、閣僚となっていた。ユーロの動きをみると分かることだが、すべてがユーロ・システムを防衛することを中心に回っている。その一貫として、金融不安に陥った国にたいしては、金融関係（それも大手の）に務めていた人物がその国の内閣を牛耳るようなかたちになっている。イタリアの前首相モンティがその典型である。
＊＊＊
Portugal's finance minister resigns
Vítor Gaspar was a key member of government as it struggles to repair its finances after taking a €78bn bailout two years ago
Associated Press in Lisbon
The Guardian, Monday 1 July 2013 18.29 BST
Vítor Gaspar had no political career before joining the government following its election in June 2011. Photograph: Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty Images
The Portuguese finance minister, Vítor Gaspar, has resigned amid mounting pressure on the government to ease its austerity policies.
The office of the country's president, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, announced Gaspar's resignation on its website and said he would be replaced by the treasury secretary, Maria Luís Albuquerque.
The office of the prime minister, Pedro Passos Coelho, confirmed Gaspar's departure in an email, but neither statement gave specific reasons for his resignation.
Gaspar was a key member of the government as it struggles to repair its finances after taking a €78bn bailout two years ago. He is an economist who had previously worked at the European Central Bank but had no political career before joining the government following its election in June 2011.
The government is under fierce pressure from opposition parties, unions and business leaders to move away from the austerity policies Gaspar adopted as the country endures what is expected to be a third straight year of recession and a jobless rate of 17.6%.
Gaspar's exit, however, is unlikely to herald major policy changes.
The austerity programme is a requirement of the country's bailout creditors – the International Monetary Fund and other EU countries. If Portugal doesn't stick with the planned cuts and tax hikes, the creditors can stop disbursements of the bailout funds, potentially making it difficult for the government to pay public sector wages and pensions.
