The head of state, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, presides this Monday at the last meeting of the Council of Ministers of the government led by António Costa. This symbolic meeting marks the final stage of the work of the 15th Legislative Assembly and eight years of institutional relations between Belem and São Bento, which Marcelo called a “happy cohabitation”, although marked by many ups and downs.
Today’s extraordinary meeting will also be the first to be held in the new government building, the former premises of the Caixa Geral de Depósitos.
This meeting of the Council of Ministers will take place on the same day that the National Statistical Institute publishes public accounts for last year, and good news is expected on the government’s fiscal performance. The historic surplus is expected to be more than 1% of gross domestic product (GDP), which will be left as a fiscal cushion for the next leader.
The week of this Monday will see the official start of the 16th Legislative Assembly, with the 230 deputies elected on March 10 taking office. Tomorrow the first plenary meeting will take place, at which a new chairman of the Assembly of the Republic will be elected.
On March 28, Prime Minister-designate Luis Montenegro, leader of the PSD, will hand over to Marcelo a list containing the names of the ministers of the new government who will take office the following week, on April 2.
Author: João Maltes
Source: CM Jornal
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