Paulo Portas, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, presented his resignation to Prime Minister Passos Coelho, reveals the Público newspaper, in its online edition.
The reason for the resignation of Portas is the choice of Maria Luís Albuquerque to replace Vítor Gaspar, at the Ministry of Finance.
The CDS had already made it known, before the Gaspar's resignation, who preferred the current Health Minister Paulo Macedo for the position.
In his resignation, disclosed by Público newspaper, Paulo Portas regrets that Passos Coelho has decided to nominate Maria Luís Albuquerque for Gaspar, saying that “[Gaspar's] personal decision to leave allowed for a different political and economic cycle. The choice made by the prime minister would therefore have to be especially careful and consensual».
However, “the prime minister decided to follow the path of mere continuity in the Ministry of Finance. I respect but I disagree», he adds.
“I expressed this point of view in due time to the Prime Minister who, even so, confirmed his choice. As a result, and bearing in mind the decisive importance of the Ministry of Finance, staying in Government would be an act of dissimulation. It is not politically sustainable, nor is it personally demandable», continues Portas.
The outgoing minister, who stresses that his decision is “irrevocable”, concludes by saying that “over these two years I have protected to the limit of my strength the value of stability. However, the way in which decisions are repeatedly taken in the Government effectively makes my contribution unnecessary».
Paulo Portas's resignation was made official by him half an hour before the inauguration of Maria Luís Albuquerque, in a ceremony at the Belém Palace, before the President of the Republic, Cavaco Silva.
Communiqué by Paulo Portas in full:
This morning I presented my resignation from the Government to the Prime Minister”
«With the submission of the resignation, which is irrevocable, I obey my conscience and cannot do anything else.
The political differences I had with the Minister of Finance are well known. His personal decision to leave allowed him to open a different political and economic cycle. The choice made by the Prime Minister would therefore have to be especially careful and consensual.
The Prime Minister decided to follow the path of mere continuity in the Ministry of Finance. Respect but disagree.
I expressed this point of view in good time to the Prime Minister, who nevertheless confirmed his choice. As a result, and bearing in mind the decisive importance of the Ministry of Finance, staying in Government would be an act of dissimulation. It is not politically sustainable, nor is it personally enforceable.
Over these two years I protected the value of stability to the limit of my strength. However, the way in which decisions are repeatedly taken in the Government effectively makes my contribution unnecessary.
I thank all my collaborators at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their invaluable help that I will not forget. I thank my Government colleagues, without party distinction, for all their friendship and cooperation.
Updated at 17:01 pm, adding the details of Paulo Portas' communiqué.
Updated at 17:26 pm, adding the statement in full.
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