Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho’s cabinet is submitting its first government program to the legislature for debate and voting, on Thursday and Friday, an official source told LUSA News Agency.

State Secretary, Luís Marques Guedes, said the program aimes to “fulfill completely” Portugal’s obligations under the financial rescue package and even “goes beyond” its demands.

After attending the European Council in Brussels last week, Prime Minister Passos Coelho said the package for the next four years included some belt-tightening measures.

Early Monday, the Prime Minister held his first official weekly meeting with President Aníbal Cavaco Silva, but declined to speak to journalists after the 90-minute encounter at the presidential office, LUSA reported.

On Tuesday, the newly formed center-right coalition government was completed with the swearing in of 33 junior ministers.

A newly appointed cadre of 11 ministers took office Tuesday of last week. The 19th Constitutional Government currently in charge is one of the smallest ever.

Eight women in the 46 member government team were appointed, less than a fifth of the total. Two women were appointed ministers and six were appointed junior ministers.

The new cabinet is now responsible for implementing the €78 billion-euro ($113 USD billion) bailout loan negotiated by the outgoing Socialist administration with the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

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