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Portugal's deficit reduction result of efforts "not a miracle": PM

Xinhua, March 3, 2017 Adjust font size:

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Thursday that Portugal's deficit reduction was down to the country's efforts, but not to a "miracle."

His comments came after the President of the Council for Public Finance Teodora Cardoso said that the 2.1 percent deficit figure in 2016 was a miracle and happened due to "measures which are not sustainable."

"The Government doesn't have the power to create miracles. The government has what it has to carry out, which is governing, managing the budget and reaching the results it proposes," the prime minister said.

Portugal's statistics agency revealed on Wednesday that GDP rose 1.4 percent in 2016, after a 1.6 percent growth in 2015.

The authorities said this reflected positive signs for Portugal's future prospects, and expected the country's GDP to grow 1.5 percent this year. Endit