Resignations by Portugal’s Finance Minister and Foreign Minister sent European markets tumbling. Political analysts say the country’s economic problems are creating an enormous burden on the political system.

“On the one hand, you have international lenders who are demanding that Portugal implement this very tough program of unprecedented tax cuts and huge spending cuts,” said the BBC’s Alison Roberts in Lisbon. “And on the other hand, the public who are saying ‘we’re not seeing any benefits at all from this either now or anytime in the near future and what we are seeing are big, big sacrifices.'”