Socialist Costa to head Portuguese government with uneasy far-left backing

Portugal's President Anibal Cavaco Silva named Socialist leader Antonio Costa as Prime Minister on the 24 November 2015, ending weeks of political stalemate after the general election of the 4 October 2015. The new government will be reliant on the support of the Communists and Left Bloc, although there would not be a formal coalition.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Portuguese MPs force minority government to quit over austerity http://www.europeansources.info/record/portuguese-mps-force-minority-government-to-quit-over-austerity/

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

EUObserver, 24.11.15: Portugal president asks left-wingers for EU and Nato pledge https://euobserver.com/political/131238

Politico, 24.11.15: Portugal’s new finance minister is no Varoufakis http://www.politico.eu/article/portugals-mario-centeno-is-no-varoufakis-greece-economic-program-socialist-party/

BBC News, 24.11.15: Portugal Socialist Costa named PM in left-wing coalition http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34916113

Deutsche Welle, 24.11.15: Portugal's new prime minister seeks alliance with far left, greens http://dw.com/p/1HBn4

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 24.11.15: Congratulation letter by President Donald Tusk to the Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/11/24-tusk-congratulation-costa-portugal/

i-Portugal, 25.11.15: Portugal's PM will stick to austerity policy (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE174005-Portugal-s-PM-will-stick-to-austerity-policy

Diário de Notícias, 25.11.15: Portugal's government not left-wing extremist (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE173843-Portugal-s-government-not-left-wing-extremist

The Guardian, 25.11.15: Portugal gets Antonio Costa as new PM after election winner only lasted 11 days http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/25/portugal-gets-new-leftwing-pm-after-election-winner-only-lasted-11-days

EUObserver, 09.12.15: [Opinion] Portugal’s leftist government: Is there need for concern? https://euobserver.com/opinion/131411

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