The call for hearings with the parties and the Council of State was announced by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on Tuesday, shortly after parliament rejected the motion of confidence that led to the resignation of the PSD/CDS-PP minority executive.

The Council of State was convened by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa under the terms of Article 145, paragraph a) of the Constitution, according to which it is the responsibility of this body to pronounce itself on the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic.

On Wednesday, the head of state heard from all parties with seats in parliament, who were unanimous in defending that the solution to the political crisis involves the dissolution of parliament and the calling of early elections, with the majority of parties preferring the date of May 11th and only BE, CDS-PP and PAN considering May 18th to be better (the two dates already publicly considered by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in the event of elections).

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