Sol
«Cavaco wants his own Government», writes the weekly broadsheet Sol, quoting former prime minister Pedro Santana Lopes, which also states that he is negotiating the future prime minister. The President of the Republic is giving top priority to negotiations between the three parties that signed the Memorandum and for now has put the Government reshuffle on ice that had been announced by Prime Minister Passos Coelho. It is feared in the PSD and CDS that the President wants to force out Pedro Passos Coelho and Paulo Portas from the Government. And there are those, like Santana Lopes, who believes the President wants to have a Government that he himself has appointed. As to the Socialist PS party, they have accepted a post-‘troika’ debate and are happy at the prospect of elections from June.
Público
«PSD and PS say “yes” to Cavaco but rule out the elections scenario in 2014», reports Público, claiming that the PS insists on snap elections, but has not closed the door to negotiations. Majority parties have accepted Cavaco Silva’s “compromise” but have not thrown out the reshuffle proposal taken to Belém. The Treasury needs €8.2bn for 2014. The newspaper leads with a photo of rowdy protestors storming the Parliament during session leading to the Assunção Esteves, the Leader of the House, to call for tighter rules on public access.
Correio da Manhã
«PSD and CDS accept national salvation», writes Correio da Manhã, reporting that the coalition Government is determined to see its mandate through to the end (2015), while Paulo Portas is said to already be moving his furniture to his new office. The leader of the PS socialist opposition party, António José Seguro is said to be ready to negotiate while the stock market saw €780 million wiped off the value of shares after the President’s address to the nation on Wednesday evening.
Diário de Notícias
«PSD and CDS accept the speech and refuse to challenge Cavaco», reports Diário de Notícias, as the coalition parties leave the reshuffle changes proposed by the Prime Minister, Pedro Passos Coelho in the hands of the President Aníbal Cavaco Silva. The Prime Minister promises that he will make every effort to negotiate with the PS opposition party but refuses to be drawn on elections in 2014. The Socialists give António José Seguro permission to negotiate but refuse a deal without elections. The paper states that the ‘troika’ eighth exam has been postponed until the end of August while markets reacted negatively to Cavaco Silva’s address on Wednesday with banks taking a hammering.
Jornal de Notícias
«Eanes could be Cavaco’s mediator» reveals Jornal de Notícias as it reports that the “independent” negotiator proposed by the President of the Republic, Aníbal Cavaco Silva in his address to the nation on Wednesday evening could be former president and military man Ramalho Eanes. António José Seguro (PS), Pedro Passos Coelho (PSD) and Paulo Portas (CDS-PP) have already gone to Belém to hold talks with the president. The Socialists are ready to negotiate but won’t just be the nodding dog to save the Government’s skin. The CDS has put off its congress yet again while the ´troika’ has postponed its next visit to September.
i
«Passos says yes to Cavaco and tries three-horse agreement », reports i, which publishes a full-page photo of the Prime Minister, Pedro Passos Coelho looking glum. Publishing a full low-down on the crisis, it reports that former PS strong arm to ex-prime minister José Sócrates, Pacheco Pereira says the Government is dead in the water. Brussels, it reports, has accepted the postponement of the eighth ‘troika’ evaluation while following yesterday’s storming of the Parliament chamber by angry demonstrators, its states that the Leader of the House, Assunção Esteves, has compared the angry crowd to a lynch mob. Turning to football, Sporting’s crack player Bruma has quit with the intent to sue the club and says he is a free agent.
Diario Económico
«Troika surprised and demands rapid solution», reports Diário Económico over how it was caught off guard by President Aníbal Cavaco Silva’s speech to the nation on Wednesday evening, the ‘troika’ and markets wanting rapid solution to the crisis. Analysts doubt the solution put forward by Cavaco Silva is unworkable. Former Prime Minister José Sócrates right-hand man, Pedro Silva Pereira talks about the “bomb” that is ticking away to the dissolution of Parliament. In Parliament the State of the Nation is under debate with a weakened Government while business leaders understand Cavaco but don’t have faith in the political parties. Both Pedro Passos Coelho and the PS António José Seguro are already trying to reach an agreement over a national salvation pact.
Jornal de Negócios
«Political Crisis – We need to finish with these parties», reports Jornal de Negócios, quoting business entrepreneur José Miguel Júdice who thinks that a Coup d’Etat or Revolution is necessary in order to change the political system (…) the answer is rule by Presidential decree. Focusing on President Aníbal Cavaco Silva’s proposal, it talks about skeletons in the parties’ closets, states that the markets want a national salvation government, and why the PS doesn’t want to get into Government. The paper also features how Cavaco Silva and past presidents create and manage political crises.
A Bola
«Irreversible», screams Bola over Sporting player Bruma’s falling out with the club and his decision to sever ties, claiming “Sporting did precious little for me to renew my contract and I must follow my career.”
Record
«Lion doesn’t trust the Dragon», reports Record, highlighting international under-20 Bruma’s decision to annul his contract with Sporting, the club running scared that he will be poached by FC Porto. He was supposed to turn up for training at the club’s ground in Alochete but went AWOL. Bruno de Carvalho reacts by saying he hopes the player doesn’t “ruin his career” over another club while Bebiano Gomes says “from now on anything is possible” as representatives talk about “kidnapping” the player.
O Jogo
«Jackson and James told me to go», says O Jogo, as Porto’s Quintero talks about his decision to sign with the Dragons after talking it over with childhood friends. The Colombian player has already allowed himself to be photographed and spoke about his first game with the club before taking off for Porto where he is expected to sign a four-year contract.