Portugal undertakes austerity measures
英语课
LISBON, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese(葡萄牙) President Anibal Cavaco Silva on Monday signed into law a bill containing a package of austerity measures to reduce the public deficit 1.
The law, which was first presented by the government and later approved by the parliament（议会,国会）, included an increase of value added tax and taxation 2 on companies and workers.
Some people doubt whether some measures in the law are constitutional.
The Constitutional Tribunal is expected to decide soon whether the measures are constitutional.
The government aims to reduce the public deficit this year from 9.3 percent to 7.3 percent of gross domestic product. (本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)
n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差
- The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
- We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。