Portugal's foreign minister resigns
Updated: 2013-07-03 04:40
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
LISBON - Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Portas on Tuesday said he would quit the government, a day after the shock resignation of the country's Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar.
Portas, who is also the leader of the junior partner party in the coalition government, said in a statement that that he opposed the appointment by Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho of Secretary of State of Treasury Maria Luis Albuquerque to replace Gaspar as the new finance minister.
He said his decision was "irrevocable."
"I expressed my opinion to the prime minister in good time. Consequently, and taking into consideration the decisive importance of the finance ministry, staying in the government would be incorrect. Neither politically nor personally sustainable," Portas said.
This is the third minister in the coalition government to leave office after Miguel Relvas stepped down as minister of parliamentary affairs in April in the wake of a scandal surrounding his university degree.
Monday's shock resignation of Vitor Gaspar, the architect of the country's reforms under its EU-IMF bailout, even triggered calls for an early election.
So far, Portugal's PSD or Socialist Democratic Party has been supported by CDS/PP or People's Party headed by Portas in a coalition government since the parliamentary elections in June 2011.
Portas has been in odds with the coalition government over its tough austerity measures, the reduction of pension in particular, under a 78-billion-euro ($101.23) bailout agreement with international lenders.
- Beckhams' star power shines
- Worried parents drive imported milk sales
- Rumbia subsides but still brings heavy rain
- Fire engulfed Arizona firefighters in seconds
- Yao Ming, McGrady team up for charity
- Egypt's Mursi rebuffs army ultimatum
- No quick end in sight for Beijing smog
- New filial law sparks debate
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Parents learn a lesson on homes |
Taking the reins of great change |
Lifting the veil of feng shui |
A growing thirst for water safety |
Justice, Tibet style |
Getting the point of TCM |
Today's Top News
'Positive' sign on Asia-Pacific free trade pact
US delays major requirement of health law
Venezuela eyed as Snowden's asylum
FM responds to Manila's accusations
Prosecution wraps up Wikileaks case
Credit crunch hits smaller firms
Recovery on horizon for rare earth sector
Earlier treatment for HIV sufferers
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |