Portugal’s Prime Minister António Costa embraced social media today to make a statement on his first six months in office.
The PM's message on Instagram said "the way had not always been easy" as Costa took an overview of his administration’s performance and focused on the "strategic vision" of his team - which is "to achieve results."
“Innovation, modernisation of the State, development and planning, re-capitalisation of companies, the eradication of poverty”… “only then will we have more growth, better jobs, greater equality and ... sustainable fiscal consolidation."
Costa said there had been difficulties in the last six months, but he considers that the government successfully had fulfilled its Troika commitments.
"It was not always easy, but we knew it would not be,” added Costa, referring in part to the current argument in Brussels over whether Portugal and Spain should be subject to sanctions due to poor 2015 budgetary performances.
The CDS-PP’s new leader Assunção Cristas, summarised the first half year of socialist government in three words: "disillusion, distrust and disarray" and says that her party is ready to go to elections "at any time."
Cristas' sugegstion may not be in her best interests as the 2015 general election drubbing her party received under the leadership of Paulo Portas could well be repeated.
The government has changed slightly since its first ministers were put in place. In April, the Minister for Culture was sacked and the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport was replaced.
Costa ended his cheery message with, "A hug, António Costa," - very much in his cuddly style.
The PM's warm assurances have endeared him to many and despite the country’s serious underlying economic problems, after six months he is still in charge, juggling his balls and smiling.
