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Portugal's Parliament in Lisbon (archive image)
Photo: © Hugo Correia / Reuters/ REUTERS
Portugal's Prime Minister António Costa presented his new government team after his election triumph in January.
More than half of the members of the new cabinet (nine out of a total of 17) are women, the left-wing government emphasized in its communiqué on Wednesday evening.
This women's majority is a novelty in Portugal, it said.
Mariana Vieira da Silva remains Presidential Minister, but has also been appointed as the new Deputy Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, head of state Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced that he would give his blessing to the list sent to him by Costa.
After Costa had led two minority governments since late 2015, his Socialist Party (PS) captured an absolute majority of seats in the »Assembleia da República« in Lisbon in the January 30 election.
It was only the second time since the country's return to democracy after the Carnation Revolution of April 25, 1974, that the PS had achieved such a success.
First time a Secretary of Defense
Eleven of the 17 ministers are new to the government team.
Probably the most important change: the former mayor of Lisbon, Fernando Medina, will replace Joao Leao as the new finance minister.
Former Defense Minister Joao Gomes Cravinho will become the country's new chief diplomat as foreign minister.
Helena Carreiras will take over his previous post, making her the first female defense minister in the history of the southern European country.
José Luís Carneiro remains Minister of the Interior.
Costa reduced the number of ministries from 19 to 17.
"This is one of the smallest governments since the return to democracy," but also "a real task force for growth and recovery," the government statement said.
The swearing-in of the new members of the government is scheduled for the coming week.
However, there is no fixed date yet.
Much to do for Costa's cabinet
Costa is facing major challenges: the left and right rivals of the PS complain, among other things, about the high tax burden, the low pensions of often less than 300 euros, the sometimes miserable salaries and the worsening housing shortage.
In addition, two budgets have to be approved this year.
One for 2022 and a few months later the one for the coming year.
And since the election, another problem has arisen: Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine threatens an economic crisis.
atb/dpa
