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Portugal gets new members of govt likely to be short-lived

Members of parliament vote to elect the national assembly's president during its first session, Friday, Oct. 23 2015, following the Oct. 4 general elections. The incumbent center-right government collected most votes but lost its outright majority in Parliament. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Members of parliament vote to elect the national assembly's president during its first session, Friday, Oct. 23 2015, following the Oct. 4 general elections. The incumbent center-right government collected most votes but lost its outright majority in Parliament. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

By Associated Press 2 min read

LISBON, Portugal (AP) – Portugal’s prime minister named his Cabinet on Tuesday for what could be one of the country’s briefest governments ever.

Pedro Passos Coelho presented his list of senior government officials to the Portuguese head of state for formal approval. They were to be sworn in Friday, after which the center-right coalition government has 10 days to present its four-year policy program to Parliament.

Center-left parties have more votes in Parliament than the minority government and have vowed to reject the program, forcing the government’s resignation after just days in office.

To replace the center-right administration the moderate Socialist Party is negotiating the creation of a majority government with the Communist Party and the radical Left Bloc following the Oct. 4 general election.

They campaigned against the austerity measures demanded by creditors after Portugal’s 78 billion-euro ($86 billion) bailout in 2011 and which were implemented by Passos Coelho’s previous government.