Soares ponders way out of crisis

Press, 24 April 1987, Page 10

Soares ponders way out of crisis

NZPA-Reuter Lisbon President Mario Soares faces the choice today of calling an early General Election or forming a new Government to end Portugal’s three-week-old political crisis. Mr Soares, making his most difficult decision in 13 months of office, heard the advice of his Council of State yesterday on how to replace the minority Centre-Right Government that was toppled in a censure vote earlier' this month. The five-hour meeting, which brought together Mr Soares’ advisers and party leaders, ended without any indication as to which of the two options he would choose. Most political analysts have predicted that Mr Soares will opt for early electiops to form the country’s seventeenth Government since the revolution in 1974 that ended a military dictatorship. But he might decide to wait until after tomorrow, the thirteenth anniversary celebrations

of the revolution. Yesterday’s Council meeting followed two weeks of wide-ranging consultations. The Prime Minister, Anibal Cavaco Silva, and his Social Democratic Party (P.S.D.) say an early poll would be the best way to find a new Government and protect Portugal’s economy. “Everything must be done to avoid a situation

of instability or uncertainty. But the decision rests with the President,” Mr Cavaco Silva told reporters yesterday after returning from a tour of China, Macao and Thailand.

His 17-month-old P.S.D. Government was ousted by the joint votes of Leftwing parties. Business groups say a quick election would help to stabilise the country and ensure Portugal’s smooth adjustment to membership of the European Economic Community, which it joined in January, last year. But the Left-wing parties — Socialists, Communists and the Democratic Renewal Party — say Mr Soares should seek a Parliamentary solution involving some form of alliance between them.

Political analysts said that if Mr Soares opted for elections, he would have to go through the formality of convening another meeting of the advisory Council of State, whose opinion is not binding on him anyway.