In a nationwide address at the prime minister's official residence, Passos Coelho said first and foremost he "will not resign" and that he will not accept the resignation of Portas either.

　　"I will not resign. I will not abandon my country. I embrace the service to my country with the same dedication and expectation as ever," Passos Coelho said.

　　The prime minister said he will try his utmost to reach consensus with the People's Party headed by Portas in the coalition government to guarantee political stability in Portugal.

　　In the past two years the Portuguese people have made enormous sacrifices in fighting the deepening economic crisis, he said, adding that political instability will bring adverse impact on the nation's efforts to come out of the crisis at an earliest date.

　　He called on all Portuguese and the country's political parties to unite and overcome the current adversity.

　　Portas resigned earlier Tuesday, one day after the departure of Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar, leaving the coalition government on the verge of collapse.

　　Portas said in a statement that he opposed the appointment of Secretary of State of Treasury Maria Luis Albuquerque to replace Gaspar as new finance minister, noting that his decision was " irrevocable".

　　This is the third minister in the coalition government to leave office after Miguel Relvas stepped down as minister of parliamentary affairs in April following a scandal over his university degree and Gaspar's resignation.

　　After the parliamentary elections in June 2011, Portugal's Socialist Democratic Party formed a coalition government with the support of the People's Party led by Portas.

　　It remains unclear whether Portas' resignation means he will personally leave the government or his People's Party is also leaving the coalition government.

　　Portas has been at odd with the coalition government over its tough austerity measures, the reduction of pension in particular, under a 78-billion-euro bailout agreement with international lenders of the troika comprising the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank. The government move has triggered outrage among the Portuguese people who frequently took to the streets in protest against the government.