Portuguese Prez confirms Antonio Costa as PM

Lisbon, Feb 3 (IANS) Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced that Antonio Costa has been nominated to continue as head of the country's new government.The decision was announced in a note published on the official website of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic, reports Xinhua news agency. In accordance with Portuguese law, the appointment was made as a result of the legislative elections on January 30, after having heard the political parties represented in the new Assembly of the Republic.Costa, secretary-general of the PS (Socialist Party), has been informed of the decision to re-appoint him as Prime Minister of the 23rd Portuguese constitutional government.The official note was released after a video conference between the president and Costa, who was unable to attend a face-to-face meeting after testing positive for Covid-19.The appointment and inauguration will take place after the first session of the 15th legislature of the Assembly of the Republic.The PS won the legislative elections with an absolute majority.
--IANS ksk/

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