The minister said it was aiming for a public deficit of 1.3 percent of gross domestic product this year, requiring sharper public spending restrictions than a previous shortfall goal of 1.8 percent.

The minority socialist government plans to reveal its 2019 budget draft on Friday and has said that if it is unable to pass it through parliament, where it needs accords from small, regional parties, it will turnover the 2018 spending plan.