Portugal appoints first woman foreign minister

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 09, 2003

Portugal appoints first woman foreign minister

Lawmaker Maria Gouveira was appointed Portugal's first woman foreign minister Wednesday to replace Antonio Martins da Cruz who resigned Tuesday over an allegedly power abuse scandal.

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Lawmaker Maria Gouveira was appointed Portugal's first woman foreign minister Wednesday to replace Antonio Martins da Cruz who resigned Tuesday over an allegedly power abuse scandal.

Gouveira, 57, was to be sworn in Thursday. She was environment minister from 1993 to 1995 and president of the Serralves Foundation and vice president of the European Affairs and Foreign Policy Commission of the Portuguese parliament before being named the chief diplomat.

Martins da Cruz quit amid accusations that he used his influence to help his daughter get a place in a medical school though she did not qualify for its entrance requirements.

The scandal led to the resignation of Higher Education Minister Pedro Lynce last week after media reports said his ministry approved the admission application made by Martins da Cruz's daughter.

The two ministers have denied any wrongdoing, saying they did not discuss the request made by the foreign minister's daughter.

Martins da Cruz was the third minister to resign since the present administration headed by Jose Manuel Durao Barroso took office in April, 2002.

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