Passos Coelho will not "resort to any security programme" and said this solution has the support of Portugal’s European partners .
"It is the right choice at the right time” said Portugal's Prime Minister, flanked by smiling members of his team, but he made it clear that "there is a long way to go." "It's not overnight that we will enjoy all the benefits of being totally autonomous."
The Prime Minister also made the assurance that "the recovery of employment and of the economy will be among the priorities of the Government." Many have assumed that this already was the case.
Passos Coelho did not make clear whether the government's decision carries any underlying commitments to international institutions, but he did say that the choice of a clean exit has the support of European partners and that Portugal could "count on them in this new phase."
"Our choice is based on the support of our European partners, which unequivocally expressed whatever the option we were to take, they would support. Portugal's success in these past three years has gained us a major vote of confidence from our partners. We can count on them in this new phase of our history, as we have counted on all the institutions, in particular with the European Commission, in the past," said the PM.
Passos Coelho could not let the announcement pass without making a few political points and remarked that, the Socialists, without ever mentioning the opposition party by name, had not always been on side, "The collapse that the country suffered in 2011 was so severe that we had to make some very difficult decisions, far harder ones than in 1983/85.”
In an attempt to involve the great unwashed, the beaming PM said that "May 17th, 2014 will go down in our history as a day of tribute to all Portuguese." "It is not the day for the government or for any political party. May 17th will be your day, the day is a tribute to each of you, the day that our freedom of decision was regained by each one of you."
Passos Coelho said, somewhat erroneously, that everyone had felt "the painful effects of a crisis that could, and should, have been avoided," and listed those affected including the unemployed who "faced the lack of job prospects," pensioners "who have seen their pensions cut," public servants "who have felt the reduction and freezing of their wages," workers in the private sector "who faced instability and uncertainty" and young people "who have lost confidence in the future."
