Sol
«President Aníbal Cavaco Silva hasn’t demanded that Paulo Portas stays in the Government», writes the weekend broadsheet which points out that the President and the Prime Minister, Pedro Passos Coelho have studied the conditions for the coalition’s continuity and stability but will only announce measures hammered out between the CDS-PP and PSD leaders after having met with all other parties on Monday. For the time being it is certain that the new Finance Minister, Maria Luis Albuquerque, whose appointment triggered the crisis, is to remain in her post despite being conspicuously absent from media attention over the past three days, but rumours that the President had demanded that Portas stay in the Government have been rubbished says the paper. Leaders within the CDS-PP party have allegedly told the Prime Minister that they will support the Government but that a concrete solution has yet to be brokered.
Público
«Portuguese President Cavaco Silva says CDS-PP leader Paulo Portas must stay in the Government», reports Público, over alleged fears that the former minister of foreign affairs could do more harm than good outside the Government than in. The annual CDS-PP Congress has been cancelled because the party fears its leader Portas will face humiliation. The European Central Bank (ECB) has not committed itself to providing further funds to Portugal but supports a continuation of Portugal’s financial policy. The daily reports that the Government is to use the Social Security Fund to finance public debt while the Government, it reports, also liquidated 26 swaps that he had been advised to retain.
Correio da Manhã
«Portuguese President Aníbal Cavaco Silva demands that the CDS leader Paulo Portas stays in the Government», writes Correio da Manhã, after the Portuguese Prime Minister, Pedro Passos Coelho held emergency talks with the President after apparently brokering a behind-the-scenes deal with minority coalition party leader Paulo Portas which was presented to the President yesterday evening. However the details of the deal were not released leading to widespread criticism from the opposition party leader. CDS-PP party has now put off its annual party congress because of the crisis and the President now says he will not permit details of the deal brokered to be released until he has had a chance to meet with all party leaders on Monday.
Diário de Notícias
«Cavaco forces Portas to take a decision», reports Diário de Notícias, referring to the minority coalition party CDS-PP leader as the “agent provocateur” of the whole crisis and could end up being the main victim of it. The paper reports that during the day (Thursday) the President Cavaco Silva had insisted that Paulo Portas remain in the Government and analysts speculated that this was because he feared that once outside the Government he could prove a loose cannon through his comments and damage the already weakened executive. DN reports that the Prime Minister says it is down to Cavaco Silva to evaluate the government crisis and suggest a solution but said that he would guarantee a formula that would ensure government stability. The paper also refers that the President is to receive the communist PCP and left-wing BE parties and the Greens on Monday while adding that the longer the crisis goes on the worse the impact could be on Portugal’s already damaged financial rating.
Jornal de Notícias
«The Portuguese Procurator of the Republic is unaware that the British police authorities want to reinvestigate the disappearance of Madeleine McCann on Portuguese soil», reveals Jornal de Notícias which reports that Scotland Yard wants to quiz 38 suspects over the disappearance of the girl from a luxury apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve in 2007. Portugal’s attorney-general said that he had not received any formal request from the British police to do with the investigation which was reopened in London.
«Cavaco bolts the door firmly shut », reveals Jornal de Notícias as it reports that after three meetings between the Prime Minister, Pedro Passos Coelho and the CDS-PP leader and ex-foreign minister, Paulo Portas no tangible agreement was reached to break the deadlock between the two parties in the Government. Belém is reported as wanting a firm commitment between the two parties in the coalition with the President of the Republic demanding a stable solution from Pedro Passos Coelho. The CDS-PP party has postponed its annual congress the paper also reports.
i
«Cavaco demands a solid solution to keep the Government going», reports i, as Portugal’s President Aníbal Cavaco Silva allegedly tells Prime Minister, Pedro Passos Coelho that he will not accept the wishy-washy solution that was presented to the President on Thursday evening. Cavaco Silva wants a solid coalition.
Diário Económico
«Post-troika is important “independent of which Government is in power”», says Diário Económico, as the business newspaper reports that the President, Aníbal Cavaco Silva had expressed the opinion that “until a few days ago” it had been highly unlikely that Portugal would not be able to return to the financial money markets. “I think that a reflection on this issue is of great importance for our collective future, regardless of which government is in power in June 2014,” he said adding that a vote of no confidence in the Portuguese parliament would be the only way that he would dissolve Parliament and call elections.
Jornal de Negócios
«Ferreira Leite wonders if Gaspar’s exit and Portas’ resignation might be linked to a second bailout», reports Jornal de Negócios, which reports that the former leader of the PSD party is “concerned” that Portugal is in a “much worse state then we’ve been led to believe.” Referring to the ex-Finance minister, Manuela Ferreira Leite, herself a one-time Finance minister said “he of all people should have known the consequences for the markets, and people’s reactions from his resignation,” she said, adding that his quitting the Finance Ministry was a “consequence rather than a cause” of the nation’s real financial situation.
A Bola
«I know it’s almost impossible for Matic not to quit», writes A Bola, quoting Benfica trainer Jorge Jesus who is said to be resigned to Matic leaving Benfica. “Of course it worries me, when he came to Portugal he was the 3rd, 4th or 5th choice at Chelsea and didn’t count. Now, after the work we’ve done on him he’s hot property”, admits the trainer.
O Jogo
«Ghilas made official today», reports O Jogo, reporting that the player will soon sign his contract for four seasons with FC Porto after completing medical exams. All being well, as expected, the French-Algerian player will sign the contract with the three-time national champions.
Record
«Cissé will be the shadow of Colombian Fredy Montero», says Record, which states that the player temporary contracting by Seattle Sounders to the Millonarios close to be clinched. (Sporting is reported to be prepared to fork out 3 million for the player). However, despite the competition being fierce, Cissé has already stressed that he isn’t worried about the reality he’ll face when joining Alvalade.