Three years ago the Portuguese government, unable to raise funds on the capital markets, went for help to the infamous troika 鈥 the combination of the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Union. In return for their bail-out, the troika imposed punitive conditions that have wrecked livelihoods.
In Portugal last September, the negative impact was expressed for me in one biting comment: 鈥淭hey are draining the life blood from Portugal.鈥