“I think that, in many ways, Europe owes Portugal an apology and appreciation, since the austerity measures the centre-right government took during the crisis were tremendous,” he said.
Stubb added that "there was no alternative" to the controversial measures the Portuguese government took, which included slashing public sector pay and pensions in return for a €78 billion bailout package from international lenders.
“If I had to do the same in Finland, as prime minister or minister of finance, I would have to go ahead,” he said. “That’s how it is.”
He said Portugal's PSD-CDS centre-right coalition had done a “great job in a difficult situation,” and had shown “a lot of courage.” He also claimed that since the minority Socialist had come into power, he “hasn’t seen much action.”
Stubb, who was interviewed on the sidelines of an initiative organised by Portugal’s Social Democrat Party (PSD) and Spain’s Popular Party, also said he thought German Chancellor Angela Merkel had been a “reference of stability in Europe” and “especially during the post-Trump and post-Brexit period.”
Mr Stubb is the one who wants to stop Portugal's
10 year tax agreements first with Finnish pensioners, then presumable other Europeians.
He (in the short time he was Finland's primeminister by co-insidence)ordered to quit the tax-agreement between Finland and Portugal, and new Finnish made agreement is not approved by Portugal Parliament. He made this mess, but takes no responsiblity of causes, as he always does. He is twofaced and incompetent to qualify his job, and he would be a total disaster for Europe. Luckily he hasn't got any chances for the comission job he's after now. #Hoaxmanstubido
By Martin Solid from Algarve on 04 Nov 2018, 16:54