New Portuguese PM sworn in

New Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes, together with his government of 19 ministers, was sworn in at a ceremony in the Ajuda Palace in Lisbon on July 17.

In a televised speech, the prime minister promised to pursue the policies of the former government, including controlling a budget deficit and encouraging export-based growth.

His cabinet of 19 ministers, of whom only six were from the former government, was also sworn in.

The new government includes two more offices than that of former Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso.

Santana Lopes showed his interest in the development of tourism by creating a ministry for the sector, of which Telmo Correira, parliamentary leader of the Popular Party, is in charge.

Lopes, 48, was mayor of Lisbon before being chosen as prime minister.

Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio appointed Lopes, president of the Social Democrat Party, as the new prime minister on July 9, following the resignation of Barroso who was nominated as president of the European Commission (EC) on June 29.

The main opposition Socialist Party, which beat the ruling Social Democrats in European Parliament elections last month and led in opinion polls, had called for the dissolution of the parliament and an early election after Barroso's resignation. It said a new government formed without a fresh ballot would lack legitimacy.

Leader of the Socialist Party Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues resigned within minutes of Sampaio's announcement that there would be no early elections to protest the president's decision.

Source: Xinhua