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Portuguese leader Antonio Costa was named prime minister by President Anibal Cavaco Silva, allowing Costa’s leftist coalition in the parliament to form government and end weeks of political crisis.
“I always deliver more than I promise,” Costa said, pointing to his record as mayor of Lisbon, where he was elected three times, with a bigger majority each time.
His leftist coalition includes the Socialist Party (PS), the Left Bloc (BE) and the far-left Communists (PSP).
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Portugal is one of the whitest countries in Europe but will have the first non-white head of government in Europe in years. I'm proud.
— Filipe S Henriques (@FHenriques)
November 24, 201
The coalition has promised to bring an end to years of austerity, increase families' disposable incomes and help the poor, while keeping the nation’s commitments to the European Union. Portugal finally completed its three-year US$83 billion bailout package from the EU and International Monetary Fund last year.
The Socialists' parliamentary leader, Carlos Cesar, said he expected the government to be sworn in this week.
"It's time to get down to work... the country is in a very difficult, fragile situation," he said.
OPINION: Portugal: What is at Stake?
Conservative President Cavaco Silva initially gave the mandate for forming a government to the outgoing right-wing prime minister, Pedro Passos Coelho, despite him having a minority in the assembly. Cavaco Silva soon bowed to popular pressure after the leftists formed a strong bloc and said, as he named Costa as premier on Tuesday, it “would not have served the national interest” to leave Passos in power.
The development comes two weeks after Costa’s coalition, which holds a majority in parliament, voted down the conservative government of Coehlo after only 11 days of its formation.
Then, the president had the power to call for snap elections and keep Passos Coehlo as a caretaker until the elections, or allow the socialists to go ahead with forming a government.
OPINION: Continuity over Change: Portugal Ahead of the Elections
Although Passos’ centre-right bloc won the most seats in the Oct. 4 elections, it lost the absolute majority it had enjoyed since 2011.
Portugal: President invites PS leader to "develop efforts" to present a stable government, requests "formal clarifications" on sev topics.
— Pedro Magalhães (@PCMagalhaes)
November 23, 201
The Socialist leader had to give the president written guarantees that his government would maintain stability and respect European rules, which he delivered in a letter Monday.
This will be the first time a leftist government has ruled Portugal since the end of the dictatorship in 1974.
WATCH: The Political Future of Portugal
