LISBON (MNI) – Portugal’s President Anibal Cavaco Silva tonight
officially accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Jose Socrates and
announced that early elections for a new government will be held on June
5.
Speaking to the nation in a live televised address, Silva also said
that the country’s Council of State had met earlier in the day and
agreed unanimously to dissolve the parliament.
Socrates had submitted his resignation on Wednesday of last week
after the opposition parties in parliament defeated his minority
government’s latest package of austerity measures.
The President, who noted Socrates did not have the political
conditions to remain in power, stressed that the economic situation is
“very grave” and that the social climate has shown signs of
“aggravation.”
He said the new government will face an economic situation without
precedent and urged the parties to end their bickering and to conduct
the election campaign in an “elevated” tone, putting an end to political
tensions.
He added that the current caretaker government must do whatever is
necessary to enable the state to meet its obligations.
Silva explained that he had chosen June 5 election date in order to
allow time to prepare for the elections. The other date under
consideration was May 29. According to reports in the Portuguese press,
Carlos Cesar, the President of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, was
against that date May because it coincides with an important religious
event there.
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