No alternative to austerity? That lie has now been nailed | Owen Jones | Opinion | The Guardian
Here's a country who defied the European mantra of austerity - and
against all expectations, Portugal became an example of economic
success.
But it's not just about
the GDP growth. In the wake of the banking crisis, politics of ruthless
austerity across Europe proved fertile soil for the development of
anti-liberal, right wing movements and parties. The lie that austerity
is the only option has cost us in the EU greatly - so is it yet time to
abandon it for good?
Bairro Alto, Lisbon. ‘This is the first time Portugal has ever met
eurozone fiscal rules. Meanwhile, the economy has now grown for 13
successive quarters.’
Photograph: Martin Thomas Photography / Alam/Alamy
