Barroso afgetreden als premier van Portugal (en)

José Manuel Durao Barroso has stepped down as Prime Minister of Portugal in order to become the next President of the European Commission.

The would-be Commission president tendered his resignation yesterday during a meeting with the Portuguese president, Jorge Sampaio.

After the meeting Mr Barroso said that his decision to step down now, four months before he can take office in Brussels, was for the sake of political stability and economic growth.

President Sampaio has yet to accept or reject his resignation but is expected to do so shortly.

He will then have to announce if Mr Barroso's successor can be selected by the ruling PSD or if fresh elections will be held.

Mr Barroso will travel to Brussels in the coming weeks to continue his meeting with European parliamentarians who have to approve his nomination as Commission president.

If approved by MEPs, he will take up office on 1 November.