Portugal PM Socrates names gov't, same key ministers

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's Socialist Prime Minister Jose Socrates on Thursday named a new government, which included most of the key ministers from his previous cabinet, his administration said in a statement.

Fernando Teixeira dos Santos will continue as finance minister and Luis Amado will stay on as foreign minister.

Former Labour Minister Jose Vieira da Silva takes up the post of economy minister, while his old job goes to Helena Andre, who joins the cabinet for the first time.

The new cabinet is likely to continue the Socialists' market-friendly economic policies, using state-private partnerships and large infrastructure projects to promote growth while addressing social issues via state-sponsored aid.

Socrates presented the list of his 16 ministers to President Anibal Cavaco da Silva, who swiftly approved it, according to a statement from the presidential administration. The new government takes over next Monday, it said.

Socrates' centre-left Socialists won a Sept. 27 general election but lost their parliamentary majority.

Socrates held talks with other political parties last week but decided after consultations to form his own minority Socialist government and negotiate support for his bills with the left and the right on a case-by-case basis in parliament.

In the election, the Socialists secured 97 seats in the 230-seat parliament.

Ruling in a minority could be a challenge as Western Europe's poorest country needs to swiftly address problems such as rising debt and unemployment, a growing budget deficit and a widening wealth gap with European partners.

The 2010 budget bill must be presented to parliament before year-end.

(Reporting by Andrei Khalip; editing by Michael Roddy)