"Sócrates threatens to leave if PEC [new austerity plan], is rejected", headlines Diário de Notícias. In an interview on private television the Portuguese PM affirmed that "if parliament votes against PEC, it is telling the government it does not have the conditions to appear at the European summit [24 and March 25] with measures to achieve fiscal consolidation […] and so we will have to give the people their say." José Sócrates said that a political crisis would be the sole responsibility of PSD (the largest opposition party), that has vowed to vote against these measures. The new austerity plan announced by the Minister of Finance on March 11, sparked a chorus of protests against the government, accusing it of not having previously discussed the new austerity measures with the President and the parliament. Diário de Notícias adds that "everything is heading towards a rejection of PEC and the resignation of the government ahead of the European Summit. Only a miracle will avoid premature elections in spring".
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