In an event of almost supreme irony the IMF representative Subir Lall was denied entry into Portugal when he flew in on Sunday as his Visa was valid only from Monday.
Lall clearly wanted to get an early start for the round of Troika meetings this week but his Sunday arrival at Lisbon airport caused a degree of embarrassment as officials relived him of €90 before allowing early entry.
The SEF borders police issued Lall with a short-stay visa after he was escorted as usual from the plane by two security police and stopped by the SEF who, quite correctly, spotted that his visa was dated as from Monday.
Laal is the Assistant Director in the European Department of the International Monetary Fund, and the mission chief for Portugal.
Despite this impressive pedigree, Lall’s alternatives were explained to him, either wait until midnight and miss a pleasant dinner in Lisbon with views over the Tagus, or cough up €90 for a piece of paper.
Lall’s comments were not recorded and it is hoped that his mood come the Troika meetings will have improved after this fine example of border control vigour.