Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho says the government has the “legitimacy” and the conditions to finish its term and early elections would only put Portugal back two years.
Responding to the opposition, Passos Coelho has again refuted that early elections are a possibility and suggests that those who are calling for the government’s resignation should not confuse “personal wishes with the wishes of the nation”.
Passos Coelho made his comments during an official trip to Trás-os-Montes last Friday, where he visited various companies and attractions in that northern region of Portugal.
If early elections were to happen, he said, “we would go back to where we were in March or April 2011. The government is supported by a majority in Parliament and so is in a legitimate position to continue.”
Passos Coelho was responding to former President of Portugal Mário Soares (from the PS party) and other figures who had voiced their opposition at the way the country was being led and believed the government should quit.
“Can you imagine if every time there were difficulties the solution would be to call early elections? I’m confident the majority of people in Portugal feel the same way,” he said, reminding all that the path Portugal has taken in the last two years to respond to debt problems and the “resilience” shown by the Portuguese during this period should be recognised.
Employment incentives without results
The PM further added that the 17.7% unemployment rate is “not news” and that the country should expect the rate to reach 18.2% before the end of the year.
Although recognising recent incentives to encourage employment had not proven successful, Passos Coelho said it was important to “reformulate” the measures, particularly those aimed at youngsters.
He further reiterated the government’s intention to attract investment and said he was pleased by the recent “positive signs” with regards to business credit granting.
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