Expresso
«Parties don’t believe that Cavaco will call early elections» says weekend broadsheet Expresso which reports that the President was “caught by surprise” by the abrupt end of negotiations.
Correio da Manhã
«Cavaco retains Government on probation», writes Correio da Manhã, which says that the President of the Republic would accept the continuation of the PSD-CDS-PP coalition Government but would be keeping a close eye on it. “I have not abdicated any of my powers” he stressed after being forced to accept the Government’s reshuffle proposed by the PSD Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho as a condition to keep the leader of the minority CDS-PP coalition partner, Paulo Portas, in the Government and avoid a fatal split. The President has ruled out the idea of calling early elections and says the Government will ride out its full term in office until 2015 but the Head of State has allegedly warned both coalition leaders that they must get along and work together. Paulo Portas achieves reinforced powers including the role of Vice Prime Minister and powers to negotiate with the ‘troika’.
Público
«Cavaco backtracks and doesn’t blame parties» reports Público, as the President of the Republic, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, tells the nation he is keeping the coalition PSD/CDS-PP government in power and accepting the reshuffle conditions insisted upon by the Prime Minister, Pedro Passos Coelho. Cavaco Silva said he would not push for early elections in 2014 but that the Government would continue on until the end of its mandate in 2015. The Government will present a motion of confidence to Parliament. The PS party, through its leader António José Seguro, says it will “respect the (President’s) decision on an institutional level while the Left Block has criticised the decision to maintain a Government “condemned to be unsuccessful”. The PCP communists say that now Cavaco has to accept all the “consequences of his actions”. “A new cycle of Government action” characterised by economic growth and fighting unemployment was announced by the Vice-President of the PSD, Pedro Pinto, on reacting to the President’s decision not to call fresh elections. “The PSD is always ready for talks” he said without mentioning the contentious Government reshuffle. Pedro Pinto stressed that with “firmness and clarity the coalition could overcome all of its problems”.
Diário de Notícias
«Cavaco demands unity in governance from Passos and Portas until 2015» states Diário de Notícias. As to the tri-party negotiations, the President regrets the failure of the ‘National Salvation’ accord but doesn’t blame anyone. His conviction is that the country’s situation will lead the Right and the PS to reach and agreement. The Coalition Government tells Cavaco Silva of its intention to present a motion of confidence in Parliament, while as late as Thursday, the leader of the PS opposition still believed that a compromise with the Government parties was possible. “Sooner or later a cross-party agreement will be imposed because of the country’s political, economic and social reality,” said the President.
Jornal de Notícias
«My convictions are stronger than pandering to pressure» reveals the leader of the socialist PS party, António José Seguro in an interview with Jornal de Notícias, adding that although he couldn’t promise it, he would do all he could to lower IRS income tax and said he had “good reasons” to alert the country to his increased concerns over the state of the country. He also said that the President’s decision to accept the status quo was “not the best” but although he disagreed; he respected it.
i
«Cavaco secures Government until 2015», reports i, as the President of the Republic, Aníbal Cavaco Silva gives ‘carte blanche’ to the Government with “reinforced guarantees of cohesion and unity”, but warns that he will “never abdicate his powers to anyone.”
Diário Económico
«Cavaco Silva draws a line under political crisis» reports Diário Económico, as 20 days after the political crisis, Aníbal Cavaco Silva addresses the country to maintain the Government in power. The President imposes conditions on the Government, the PSD Majority applauds Cavaco Silva and pushes ahead with the reshuffle while the spectre of a second bailout still hovers over the country until the end of the year. The Prime Minister, Pedro Passo Coelho, says he will try and seek a deeper understanding than the ones that fell far short during last week’s five meetings with the CDS-PP and PS parties. “We’re at a phase in which we need a great union” he says after giving assurances to the President that the two parties will try to get along better during the negotiation process encouraged by the President. Interest rates on 10-year sovereign bonds return to 6.401% – the position they hovered around before former Finance minister Vítor Gaspar’s decision to quit three weeks ago which triggered the political crisis.
Jornal de Negócios
«Cavaco gives new lease of life to Pedro Passos Coelho», reports Jornal de Negócios as the President Aníbal Cavaco Silva tells the nation on television that he regrets the failure of the three parties that signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the ‘troika’ in 2011 to reach an agreement for ‘National Salvation’ and retains the current coalition Government in power until 2015.
«Santos Pereira and Assunção Cristas are to pay a fine of €43 a day from their own pockets» as a court orders the two Government ministers to pay a fine for having suspended works on the Sines-Beja motorway.
A Bola
«Three new diamonds» says a Bola as three promising new players put a smile on Sporting’s face – William Carvalho, Cristian Ponde and Filipe Chaby.
Record
«Double the Pleasure», reports Record, as Sporting cock-o-hoop over “happy Sunday” which would be difficult to repeat as Sporting draws 3:3 in two matches against Estoril and Peñarol, Toronto in which the Lions won on penalties in the latter. Winger Welder arrives at Sporting this week.
O Jogo
«Iturbe in the lap of the Gods» says O Jogo, as Jackson scores and puts the attack in order. Mangala scores one and Varela twice in a 4-2 victory for FC Porto. In an interview Porto manager Pinto da Costa says “I would like to win another European match although despite the victory the champions’ defence showed some weaknesses.