Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio said today he would call on the ruling Social Democrats to form a new government because of the resignation of Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso.
Mr Durao Barroso stepped down to succeed Mr Romano Prodi as head of the European Commission.
Lisbon Mayor Pedro Santana Lopes heads the centre-right Social Democrats and would be the party's pick to become prime minister.
"I have decided to give the current (parliamentary) majority the opportunity to set up a new government," Mr Sampaio said in a televised address.