PM presents government programme, promises institutional respect
"The action of this government will be marked by institutional loyalty and democratic humility," said António Costa in presenting to parliament his new government's programme.
Portugal’s prime minister, António Costa, in presenting to parliament his new government’s programme, promised institutional fair dealing, absolute respect for the separation of powers, and democratic humility from the executive in the exercise of its functions throughout the current term.
Costa conveyed this position in his opening speech in the debate on the Programme of the XXIII Constitutional Government, which is to run until Friday in the assembly.
“The action of this government will be marked by institutional loyalty and democratic humility,” he opened his speech by saying. “We are certain that this was exactly what the Portuguese people wanted: to have a majority that guarantees stability and promotes dialogue.”
Earlier, the main opposition Social Democratic Party had announced that it would abstain on a motion tabled by the third-largest party in the assembly, right-populist Chega, to reject the government’s programme. However, the document is guaranteed to come through unscathed in any case, since Costa’s Socialist Party has a absolute majority of members.
