Portugal political crisis talks break down

By the 20 July 2013 a week of talks by Portugal's three main parties on how to end a political crisis had broken down, leaving the country's bailout programme in doubt.

President Anibal Cavaco Silva was seeking a 'national salvation' deal to back austerity policies demanded by EU and IMF lenders.

But opposition leader Antonio Jose Seguro said the governing coalition had rejected most of his party's proposals. He said it was now up to the president to decide how to end the crisis.

However, on the 21 July 2013 President Silva backed the centre-right coalition government, ruling out snap polls to resolve the political crisis.

The eighth review of the agreed 2011 bailout by the Troika - the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the European Central Bank - was put back to early autumn 2013.

ESO: Background information: Portuguese president calls for early elections in 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/portuguese-president-calls-for-early-elections-in-2014/

Deutsche Welle, 19.07.13: Portugal crisis talks prove fruitless says opposition http://dw.de/p/19B1J

BBC News, 21.07.13: Portugal head backs government and rejects snap poll http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23400981

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