According to the rules of the "European semester" permitting the coordination of economic policies, euro-zone member states must submit their draft budgets for the next year by 15 October, so that the commission can give its view - and request any changes - in November, before the national parliament approves the budget before the end of the year.


However, the fact that Portugal's elections are taking place at the beginning of October, with no government likely to be formed for several weeks, are being taken into account by the commission, as has happened in the recent past, according to the officials, who cited similar situations involving Latvia, Austria and Germany.


Contacted by Lusa, Portugal's Ministry of Finance declined to comment on the matter.


One possibility, given the brief period available between the elections and the deadline for submission of the budget, is that a skeleton version be submitted, as was done last year by Lathe version handed in on time by the outgoing government was subsequently updated by its successor.