This week saw Portugal’s president Anibal Cavaco Silva meeting with the main political parties for crisis talks over the government’s future with markets, a decision following several resignations and the threat of more to come. Under the constitution, President Silva has the power to dissolve parliament and call new elections during political crises. Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho has fought hard to keep his country on the path to exit its 78 billion euro bailout next year as scheduled, however the measures have pushed Portugal deeper into its worst economic crisis in three decades. Fears are that a sudden election could disrupt Lisbon’s exit from the international bailout. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, a former Portuguese premier, after two years of closely following its bailout program, said Portugal risks damaging its hard-earned financial credibility. Many commentators called the entire situation “absurd”.