Mister Speaker,
Prime Minister,
Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Government which is being empowered today, as a result of the elections held on 27 September, has full constitutional legitimacy to govern. It earned this legitimacy at the polls and, after the political parties represented in Parliament were heard by the President of the Republic, it is now empowered.

The XVIII Constitutional Government takes up its duties at a particularly difficult time in our national affairs.

From what I heard from the political party leaders, from my own academic experience, from the contacts I have kept with qualified experts, from what I hear from the various business leaders and social partners, from my first hand knowledge of the realities of our Country, obtained through an open and direct contact with the people, I know that we are facing an extremely worrying social and economic situation.

Amongst the problems faced by Portugal, two deserve special attention: unemployment and external debt.

Unemployment, for what it means in the failure of social cohesion, in privation, anxiety and uncertainty as to the future of those who are going through such a situation.

External debt, for the constraints it may impose on the Country’s development.

Either of them demands an increase in the national production of goods which may be transacted and the strengthening of the competitive capability of the Portuguese economy, conditions which will enable us to again converge with the more developed European countries.

Therein lays the relevance of investments which increase the productivity and the competitiveness of business corporations. Without an increase in internationally competitive production it will not be possible to create sustainable jobs and contain the needs for recourse to external finance.

What is more, as is well known, there is a relationship between external deficit and the imbalance of public accounts, the so-called twin deficits.

The effort which is demanded from the Country to face this challenge is further increased by the difficult international economic and financial situation, in spite of the global positive growth indicators which have lately been revealed.

The fall in demand experienced in markets which are particularly relevant for the Portuguese economy requires from our entrepreneurs a great effort in the improvement of competitiveness indices, in order to successfully face foreign competition.

The Government which is now empowered takes up its duties in a complex but not untold political picture. Throughout more than thirty years of democracy we have often been headed by minority governments. I know, from my own experience, what it means to head a minority government.

It is obvious to all that, in such a political framework, dialogue and the search for possible consensus gain an increased relevance.

It is necessary to compromise with other political forces, listen to the social institutions and civil society organizations, and give particular attention to the real problems that families face in their day-to-day lives.

Dialogue must equally be at the service of the promotion of trust and understanding between the central power and the autonomous regions, in the respect for the constitutional principles of the integrity of State sovereignty and of the autonomy of the Azores and Madeira.

A culture of negotiation must be compatible with a culture of responsibility of the various political forces and of economic and social bodies. Our collective future is the responsibility of us all and there are certainly several areas where it is possible to surpass differences of opinion and carry out common undertakings.

The building of a better future for Portugal demands active participation in the process of European integration and a common endeavour in the promotion of excellence in teaching, innovation, research and technological development. A clear effort is equally demanded in the credibility and efficiency of the judiciary system, in the strengthening of people’s security, in the defence of the quality of the environment, in taking advantage of the economic potential and strategic value of the sea.

In the difficult times the Country is going through, an active social policy is demanded, as well as an increased effort in the support of all our fellow citizens more exposed to adversity and misfortune, and to the more vulnerable layers of our society.

With the Country’s existing level of unemployment, the Portuguese would find it difficult to understand that the politicians should not concentrate their attention in the resolution of the peoples’ material problems.

Prime Minister,
Ministers,

The absence of a majority support in Parliament is not in itself a disquieting component of governance. The absence of a majority does not imply the adjournment of measures demanded by the Country’s situation. For any Government, the time limit for action must always be the legislature.
In the face of the seriousness of the Country’s economic situation and the complexity of the current political picture, we are all called upon to act with a great sense of responsibility and institutional loyalty.

The President of the Republic’s permanent aim is to guarantee the unity of the State, the regular functioning of the institutions, the balance of the political system and democratic pluralism.

I have never broken my word or failed in any commitments I made, in public or in private. This is exactly the attitude I will keep with the Government I am now empowering. I will not alter by even one millimetre the commitment I have taken with the Portuguese and, for this reason, this Government may rely upon the cooperation of the President of the Republic.

Because I am well aware of the difficulties which a minority government has to face, because I am well aware of the difficulties that a President of the Republic can cause a Government, I will always be a reference of stability.

But, in addition to that, when I was empowered I assumed the commitment, which I shall always keep, not just of institutional cooperation but also of strategic cooperation with other sovereign bodies, within the respect for the constitutional limitations of separation and independence of powers.

And I later had the opportunity to specify that this strategic cooperation would be interpreted by the endeavour of the President in carrying out the national objectives which had wide consensus, of which I allow myself to underline, the building of a fairer and friendlier society, the defence of a civic culture of responsibility, the international projection of the Portuguese language and culture, the deepening of the privileged relations with Portuguese speaking countries, the promotion of effective equality of opportunities, the dignifying and the prestige of the Armed Forces and the nurturing of innovation and of scientific and technological development.

I have kept, throughout my mandate, a severe impartiality before the various political forces. As I stressed when I was empowered, I am and will be the President of all Portugal. Whilst President of the Republic, I am a close observer of reality and have, before all the Portuguese, the duty to state what I believe whenever I consider opportune.

My motions are not based on political calculation. It is conscience which challenges me every day in the exercise of my duties. Public office is ephemeral, but man’s character is durable. It is not the office which defines our personality, but what we are in everything we carry out.

I have never hidden from the Portuguese the difficulties the Country is going through, just as I have always tried to bring out instances of success and best practices to stimulate the best that our Country has to offer, to support deserving initiatives of the civil society or call upon the voices which are not heard.

Numerous examples of success exist in all walks of national life: entrepreneurs capable of innovation and of running risks, young people dedicated to actions on behalf of the more needful, demanding teachers who are fully and totally dedicated to their school, institutions which distinguish themselves by the activities they develop on behalf of the community.

These examples are valuable and rare in the current environment. They show us that, with effort, dedication, and creativity and will to win, it is possible to build a better Portugal. We have to materialize a fast and dynamic economic recovery. From the North to the South of the Country there are many seeds of hope which we must cherish.

Prime Minister,
Ministers,

The XVIII Constitutional Government is facing a difficult task. In addition to the search for ententes which allow the Country’s governance, in addition to the conquering of adversities which are common and natural to many minority governments in the consolidated European democracies, the new Executive has to face complex economic and social issues.

It is doubtless that the Country requires reform. But, more than reform, the Country needs a course for the future. To lay down a course that unites the Portuguese, that conquers dismay and disbelief, that stimulates confidence and brings out the people’s belief in Portugal is something which is far above party political conflict, it is a challenge for all sovereign bodies and politicians.

In this area, Prime Minister, you may rely upon the endeavour of the President of the Republic.

I shall give, as I have always given, my contribution for the Portuguese to believe in themselves and not to lower their arms in this decisive hour. I will continue to travel the Country, from North to South, appealing for efforts to unite, providing words of hope and stressing the good examples of answers to the crisis.

Let us follow the examples of youth. The voluntary social aid work they have carried out is admirable. The notable efforts of our young researchers and artists in Portugal and abroad make us proud of the Country we were born in.

Youth must be our great investment. Youth shows us that it is not dependent upon the State to follow its path. Young people believe in themselves and we must do everything in our power to avoid their going abroad to find better appreciation of their capabilities.

Mister Prime Minister,
Ministers,

We all have great responsibilities in current times. Great is, without doubt, the responsibility of the new Government, but so is that of the various political forces and of the economic and social bodies.

To you, Prime Minister, and to all the members of your Government, I wish the greatest success in the offices you have been empowered in today.