His doubts, he reiterated, were raised by the nature of the accords reached between the Socialist Party and the other left-of-centre groups that have pledged to support the government in parliament.


"The documents in question are omissive on some points that are essential to the government's political stability and durability, raising questions that, despite the efforts made, have not been totally dissipated," Cavaco Silva said at the ceremony.


Stressing that the government, which is Portugal's 21st since the establishment of democracy following the 1974 Revolution, results from "an unprecedented solution", the president noted that the commitment made by the left-of-centre groups "confers on the political forces involved the responsibility for the government that is sworn in today."


Of the accords signed by them, he said it was "not entirely clear" to what extent they offered "the guarantee of durability in the time period of a parliament" but that the fact that the new government could be sworn in "constitutes proof of the capacity of dialogue not only with the other political forces but also with the social partners and civil society institutions."


It is, he continued, fundamental that talks with such "social partners" - that is business and employer organisations as well as trade unions - are valued "as a decisive element for the country's development and for the cohesion of Portuguese society". Not to do so "would have a very high cost for our future", he added.