Lisbon Mayor and leader of the Social Democrats Pedro Santana Lopes is expected to become Portugal's new prime minister after President Jorge Sampaio on Friday asked the ruling party to form a new government.

Sampaio announced his decision in a TV address, following the resignation of Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, who is to become president of the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union.

Santana Lopes, who will certainly be picked by his party to become prime minister, said on Friday that he will take up this task "with maturity and respect" and work hard to solve the problems facing the Portuguese people.

He said he respects the decision by the president and gave a "democratic salute" to Eduardo Ferro Rodirgues, leader of the country's largest opposition party, the Socialist Party (PS).

However, Ferro Rodirgues declared Friday his resignation from the post of PS secretary general in disagreement over Sampaio's decision.

"The PS must elect an able secretary general to cope with the new political situation, with the wisdom to find the best solution," he said when announcing his resignation.

Earlier, Ferro Rodirgues called for early parliamentary elections. But the request was rejected by Sampaio, who claimed that the Social Democrats is able to finish its term.

Under the Portuguese constitution, the cabinet of Durao Barrosomust stay on as a caretaker government until a new prime minister is sworn in.

The next elections are not due until 2006. But following Durao Barroso's resignation, opinion polls showed that most Portuguese backed a vote ahead of 2006.

Source: Xinhua