Portuguese PM to resign for EC post

Last updated at 11:33 05 July 2004


Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso is to resign today, helping clear the way for him to head the European Commission, a presidential spokeswoman said.

Barroso will meet President Jorge Sampaio at 4pm UK time to present his resignation, she said. A spokeswoman for Barroso declined to comment on the nature of the meeting.

The centre-right leader last week accepted a nomination to become president of the Commission, the executive arm of the 25-nation European Union.

Sampaio has met retired political leaders in recent days to discuss whether to hold early parliamentary elections or appoint a new government. The next polls are due in 2006.

Lisbon Mayor Pedro Santana Lopes, elected leader of the ruling Social Democrats last week, is the party's front-runner to be nominated prime minister.

If he accepts the premiership, Santana Lopes

would inherit a party punished in European Parliament elections last month for economic austerity measures introduced by Barroso.

The opposition Socialist Party leads in opinion polls and has called for early elections.

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