Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva on Tuesday tasked outgoing centre-right leader Pedro Passos Coelho with forming a "stable and lasting government" after his coalition won reelection at the weekend. 

"I have asked Mr Passos Coelho to take steps to evaluate the possibility of forming a government which will ensure political stability," he said in a televised speech, saying it was crucial that Portugal have a "stable and lasting government".