José Sócrates
In 2008–09 , with the Great Recession starting to hit Portugal and facing recession and high unemployment , austerity was waned as part of the European economic stimulus plan . Nevertheless , support for Sócrates and the Socialists eroded and the ruling party lost its majority in the 2009 election . The second government of José Sócrates faced a deterioration of the economic and financial state of the country , with skyrocketing deficit and growing debt . 
<triplet> European economic stimulus plan <subj> 2008 <obj> point in time