Portugal's post-coup constitution ties president's hands in tackling political and economic crises

By ABC News/ AP, 20 November 2015
Cavaco Silva announced revision of state budget in New Year address (photo credit: LUSA)
Cavaco Silva announced revision of state budget in New Year address (photo credit: LUSA)
<p itemprop="articleBody">History has returned to haunt&nbsp;Portugal, with a constitutional amendment adopted after a military coup more than 30 years ago holding the eurozone country in a tense political limbo that threatens to rekindle its financial troubles.</p><p itemprop="articleBody">Article 172 of the Portuguese Constitution, which says the president cannot call an election for six months after the last ballot, aimed to help ensure stability after a cascade of eight governments in six years following the 1974 Carnation Revolution. Now, it is helping keep Portugal from solving its political crisis in one fell swoop since the center-right government's collapse last week at the hands of anti-austerity lawmakers.</p>
Read the full article here: ABC News/ AP

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