"Something rather complicated has popped up. There was this leaders’ conference (parliamentary whips) this morning and no time had been mentioned as to when the government was to be sworn in. The stability of the agenda is all-imposing in parliament", said the Socialist MP and deputy whip Jorge Lacão.


The Socialist MP added that, "in strictly personal terms (sic), it would have been more prudent of the president of Portugal to have given this a bit more thought ".


"We do not consider it adequate to schedule the swearing-in of the government at the same time as a plenary meeting of parliament that had already been scheduled. This decision was taken by the president", regretted the Communist whip, João Oliveira, adding that they had informally told the speaker of the house, Socialist MP, Ferro Rodrigues, that the Communists would be “willing” to delay the plenary meeting for after the official swearing.in ceremony.