Brussels, 05/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday evening, the Portuguese prime minister, Pedro Passos Coelho, announced that he had a “formula” to ensure the survival of the centre-right coalition government, destablised by the resignations of Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar and Foreign Minister Paulo Portas. The prime minister has refused to accept Portas' resignation. After a meeting with the Portuguese president, Anibal Cavaco Silva, the prime minister said a formula had been found that would ensure a stable government.
He didn't give any details, saying that talks still needed to take place to firm things up. Portas is the leader of the Conservative party, CDS-PP, which is in government with the prime minister's Social Democratic party. His support is crucial if the coalition is to keep the majority in parliament. Portas' resignation is a personal matter and does not jeopardise support for the CDS-PP in the government, explained Passos Coelho, adding that a way needed to be found to ensure the political support of the CDS in government to ensure stability. (SP/transl.fl)