Portugal’s Socialist leader sees opportunity for leftist cabinet / Portugal’s president appoints Coelho to lead amid leftist backlash

EurActiv reported that Antonio Costa, the head of Portugal's main opposition Socialists had on the 12 October 2015 raised the prospect of forming an 'alternative government' with two other leftist parties. This development followed the general election of 4 October 2015 when the results saw the ruling centre-right government fall short of an outright victory.

Nevertheless, centre-right leader Passos Coelho was reappointed Prime Minister by President Aníbal Cavaco Silva on the 22 October 2015. The new government was sworn in on the 30 October 2015. However, the new government would possibly lose a confidence vote in its early days (predicted to be on the 10 November 2015) when it presented its programme and a new challenge for the Portuguese President would arise.

The leader of the Socialist Party (PS) António Costa confirmed on the 8 November 2015 that his party had reached an agreement with the Left Bloc (BE) and the Communist Party (PCP).

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Portuguese legislative election, 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/portuguese-legislative-election-2015/

ESO: Background information: Portugal’s austerity government wins http://www.europeansources.info/record/portugals-austerity-government-wins/

The Wall Street Journal, 12.10.15: Portuguese Leftist Parties Signal Willingness to Form Government http://www.wsj.com/articles/portuguese-leftist-parties-signal-willingness-to-form-government-1444668132

Politico, 14.10.15: Left turn in Lisbon http://www.politico.eu/article/left-turn-in-lisbon/

Diário de Notícias, 15.10.15: Reversing austerity no solution for Portugal (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE171500-Reversing-austerity-no-solution-for-Portugal

Público, 08.10.15: Why not a left-wing government for Portugal? (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE171204-Why-not-a-left-wing-government-for-Portugal

El País, 06.10.15: Socialists should ease austerity (via Euro!Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE170932-Socialists-should-ease-austerity

France Inter, 16.10.15: A new left is emerging across Europe (via VOXeurop) http://www.voxeurop.eu/en/content/article/4998672-new-left-emerging-across-europe

The Telegraph, 16.10.15: Portugal's Socialists poised to form new Left-wing government http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11937638/Portugals-Socialists-poised-to-form-new-Left-wing-government.html

Euronews, 15.10.15: Portugal’s President to nominate Prime Minister after post-election talks break down http://www.euronews.com/2015/10/15/portugal-s-president-to-nominate-prime-minister-after-post-election-talks-break/

EurActiv, 21.10.15: Portugal’s Socialist leader expects to be named Prime Minister http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/portugals-socialist-leader-expects-be-named-prime-minister-318710

BBC News, 22.10.15: Portugal's Coelho invited to stay as prime minister http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34611274

Deutsche Welle, 22.10.15: Portugal's president appoints Coelho to lead amid leftist backlash http://dw.com/p/1Gsv5

Blog: Open Europe, 23.10.15: Government formation takes an unexpected turn in Portugal http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/government-formation-takes-an-unexpected-turn-in-portugal/

The Telegraph, 23.10.15: Eurozone crosses Rubicon as Portugal's anti-euro Left banned from power http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11949701/AEP-Eurozone-crosses-Rubicon-as-Portugals-anti-euro-Left-banned-from-power.html

EurActiv, 26.10.15: Political crisis boiling in Portugal http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/political-crisis-boiling-portugal-318846

EUObserver, 27.10.15: Portugal caught up in post-election turmoil https://euobserver.com/news/130845

Politico, 30.10.15: Limbo in Lisbon http://www.politico.eu/article/limbo-in-lisbon/

BBC News, 30.10.15: What is going on after the Portuguese election? http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p036ncrw

The Guardian, 28.10.15: [Opinion]: Sorry, British Eurosceptics, but there was no coup in Portugal http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/28/british-eurosceptics-austerity-coup-portugal-elections-eu-brexit

Diário de Notícias, 28.10.15: Portugal's new government trapped (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE172356-Portugal-s-new-government-trapped

Jornal de Negócios, 05.11.15: Portugal's politicians running out of time (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE172809-Portugal-s-politicians-running-out-of-time

BBC News, 07.11.15: Socialists ready to head left-wing coalition in Portugal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34754872

Público, 09.11.15: Is Portugal's left capable of consensus? (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE172897-Is-Portugal-s-left-capable-of-consensus

Politico, 09.11.15: Leftists ready to topple Portugal’s austerity premier http://www.politico.eu/article/leftists-ready-to-topple-portugals-austerity-premier-alliance-socialists-communists-radical-left/

EurActiv, 09.11.15: Green light for left-wing government in Portugal http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/green-light-left-wing-government-portugal-319321

The Guardian, 09.11.15: Portuguese Socialist party to vote to oust minority government http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/09/portuguese-socialist-party-to-vote-to-oust-minority-government

The Wall Street Journal, 09.11.15: Portugal Goes to Greece? http://www.wsj.com/articles/portugal-goes-to-greece-1447117080

Euronews, 10.11.15: Key vote could topple Portugal PM Coelho’s minority government http://www.euronews.com/2015/11/10/key-vote-could-topple-portugal-pm-coelho-s-minority-government/

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