BEIJING, July 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Members of Portugal’s governing coalition have reached a deal on a 78-billion-euro bailout program, aimed at easing the country’s financial crisis.

The announcement was made on Friday by the vice president of the Democratic and Social Center People’s Party, Nuno Melo. The CDS-PP is the junior partner in the coalition, under the governing Social Democrats. The leaderships of the two parties in the coalition will now meet again on Saturday and make a statement to the country.

The political crisis broke out this week, after Foreign Minister and head of the CDS-PP, Paulo Portas, resigned, over differences on fiscal policy. It followed a number of other high level resignations. The political uncertainty has threatened to derail Lisbon’s austerity program under the 78-billion-euro bailout. Meanwhile, ratings agency Standard & Poor’s lowered Lisbon’s sovereign credit outlook on Friday, from stable to negative, citing political uncertainty.

(Source: CNTV.cn)