The President of the Republic Cavaco Silva revealed this Thursday, in a communication to the country, that he had nominated Pedro Passos Coelho, president of the PSD and leader of the coalition Portugal Forward (PSD/CDS), as prime minister and to form the Government.
The President said, in his speech, that he was "mindful that in the 40 years of Portuguese democracy, the responsibility of forming the Government has always been attributed to whoever won the elections".
And the Legislative Elections of October 4th were in fact won by the PSD/CDS coalition, although without an absolute majority and therefore, in the Parliament, which starts to function tomorrow, the majority of the votes belong to deputies to the left of the coalition.
"If the Government formed by the winning coalition may not fully ensure the political stability that the country needs, I consider the financial, economic and social consequences of a clearly inconsistent alternative suggested by other political forces to be much more serious", defended Cavaco Silva.
During the hearing of the political forces, the President of the Republic had heard, from the PS, BE, PCP and “Os Verdes”, the proposal for a solution that involved a socialist government supported mainly in Parliament by the other left-wing parties.
However, as the BE spokesperson said today in an interview with Antena1, the agreement between the leftist forces is not yet concluded, nor are details known about it.
The President, in his communication to the country, referred to this, saying that "it is significant that these political forces have not presented guarantees of a stable, lasting and credible alternative solution".
Another reason pointed out by Cavaco Silva for rejecting a Government that allies PS with the Left Bloc and the PCP is the fact that «in 40 years of democracy, the governments of Portugal have never depended on the support of anti-European political forces».
On the other hand, he defended, "the observance of the commitments assumed within the framework of the Eurozone is decisive, it is absolutely crucial for the financing of our economy and, consequently, for economic growth and job creation". "Outside the European Union and the Euro, the future of Portugal would be catastrophic", stressed the PR.
Not counting, at the outset, with sufficient support in the Assembly of the Republic, only a turnaround in the support that has been negotiated will guarantee Passos Coelho that his Government's program can be approved.
Communication from the President of the Republic in full:
Portuguese
In the Communication to the Country that I carried out on October 6th, I stated that Portugal needs a government solution that ensures political stability.
I also mentioned that this governmental solution must give firm guarantees that it will respect the international commitments historically assumed by the Portuguese State and the great strategic options adopted since the establishment of the democratic regime, options that – it is important to bear in mind – were supported by the overwhelming majority of citizens in the elections of the 4th of October.
The contacts made between the political parties that support and support the project of the European Union and the Eurozone have not produced the necessary results to reach a stable and lasting government solution.
This situation is all the more singular in that the political orientations and electoral programs of these parties are not incompatible, being, on the contrary, practically converging with Portugal's strategic objectives.
Hence my repeated call for a broad understanding of the broad guidelines of national policy.
I deeply regret that, at a time when it is important to consolidate the trajectory of growth and job creation and in which dialogue and commitment are more necessary than ever, cyclical interests have superseded the safeguarding of the superior national interest.
In this context, and having heard the parties represented in the Assembly of the Republic, today I nominated, as Prime Minister, Dr. Pedro Passos Coelho, leader of the largest party in the coalition that won the elections last October 4th.
I was aware that in the 40 years of Portuguese democracy, the responsibility to form the Government was always attributed to whoever won the elections.
This occurred in all electoral acts in which the winning political force did not obtain a majority of deputies to the Assembly of the Republic, as happened in the 2009 legislative elections, in which the Socialist Party was the most voted party, electing only 97 deputies, not having the other political forces made his entry into office unfeasible.
I was also aware that the European Union is a strategic option for the country. This option was essential for the consolidation of the Portuguese democratic regime and continues to be one of the foundations of our democracy and the model of society in which the Portuguese want to live, a developed society , fair and supportive.
Compliance with the commitments assumed within the framework of the Eurozone is decisive, it is absolutely crucial for the financing of our economy and, consequently, for economic growth and job creation.
Outside the European Union and the Euro, the future of Portugal would be catastrophic.
In 40 years of democracy, Portugal's governments have never depended on the support of anti-European political forces, that is, political forces that, in the electoral programs with which they presented themselves to the Portuguese people, defend the repeal of the Lisbon Treaty, the Budget Treaty, the Banking Union and the Stability and Growth Pact, as well as the dismantling of the Economic and Monetary Union and Portugal's exit from the Euro, in addition to the dissolution of NATO, an organization of which Portugal is a founding member.
This is the worst moment to radically change the foundations of our democratic regime, in a way that does not even correspond to the democratic will expressed by the Portuguese in the elections held on October 4th.
After having implemented a demanding program of financial assistance, which entailed heavy sacrifices for the Portuguese, it is my duty, within the scope of my constitutional powers, to do everything to prevent the wrong signals being transmitted to financial institutions, investors and the markets, by putting the country's external trust and credibility, which we have been earning with great effort, is at stake.
I must, in conscience, tell the Portuguese that I am very much afraid of a loss of confidence in our international institutions, our creditors, in investors and in the external financial markets. The country's trust and credibility are essential for investment and job creation.
It is all the more incomprehensible that the Europeanist party forces did not reach an understanding when, in the recent past, they voted together, in the Assembly of the Republic, to approve the Lisbon Treaty, the Budget Treaty and the European Stability Mechanism, while the other parties they always voted against.
It is up to the President of the Republic, in a completely free manner, to make a judgment on the various political solutions with a view to the appointment of the Prime Minister.
If the Government formed by the winning coalition may not fully ensure the political stability the country needs, I consider the financial, economic and social consequences of a clearly inconsistent alternative suggested by other political forces to be much more serious.
Moreover, it is significant that no guarantees of a stable, lasting and credible alternative solution have been presented by these political forces.
Portuguese,
The responsibility of the President of the Republic in the formation of the Government is regulated by article 187 of the Constitution, according to which the President must appoint the Prime Minister taking into account the electoral results, after hearing the political parties with parliamentary representation.
I follow the rule that has always been in force, I repeat, that has always been in force in our democracy: whoever wins the elections is invited to form a Government by the President of the Republic.
However, the appointment of the Prime Minister by the President of the Republic does not end the process of formation of the Government. The last word belongs to the Assembly of the Republic or, more precisely, to the Deputies of the Assembly of the Republic.
The rejection of the Government Program, by an absolute majority of Deputies in effective functions, implies their resignation.
It is therefore up to the Deputies to assess the Government Program that the Prime Minister will present to the Assembly of the Republic within ten days after his appointment.
It is up to the Deputies to decide, in conscience and taking into account the best interests of Portugal, whether the Government should or should not fully assume its functions.
As President of the Republic, I assume my constitutional responsibilities.
It is now up to the Deputies to assume theirs.
Good evening.
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