Portugal passes Greek-style austerity budget

  
The vote went through with the abstention of right-wing lawmakers and despite the opposition of the far-left. Portuguese unions have attacked the austerity measures, saying they will harm the poorest.
  
The new budget foresees a reduction in Portugal's public deficit by one basis point to 8.3 percent in 2010 and the government has said it wants to return to below the EU-mandated threshold of three percent by 2013.
  
Greece has faced extreme pressure on government debt markets after revealing the eurozone's highest deficit - nearly 13 percent in 2009. Greece's woes have thrown a spotlight on other eurozone economies like Portugal.
  
Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos spoke to lawmakers of "the particular importance of this budget of transition, of combat against the crisis, but also of recovery in budget consolidation.
  
"The effort must be intensified in the coming years and if we can, we will do better than expected in 2010," said the minister, adding that "the austerity budget is aimed mainly at a reduction in public spending."
  
The government has said it wants to cut spending, delay investment and sell state assets to fix Portugal's finances. It has proposed measures to freeze public sector wages and reduce the number of public sector employees.