The mandate of Manuel Pinho as Portugal’s Economy Minister will be expired on September 27 when there is a new general election in the country. But Mr. Pinho has suddenly quit his ministerial post after he made a cuckold sign that was deemed as an insult toward an opposition MP Bernandino Soares in the Portugese parliamentary during a debate over the future of the troubled Aljustrel zinc mine. From BBC
Portugal’s Economy Minister Manuel Pinho has resigned after making a rude cuckold gesture at an opposition MP.
Mr Pinho placed his index fingers on his head, imitating horns.
The gesture was directed at Bernandino Soares, leader of the Communist parliamentary group, who had challenged the government about a mine’s future.
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“This was just an episode. One that shouldn’t have happened and that affects the government’s image, but which has now been corrected this way [with Mr Pinho's resignation],” he said.
Traditionally the horns signify a man whose wife is unfaithful.
Mr Pinho had been questioned about his handling of talks at the troubled Aljustrel zinc mine in the south of Portugal.
From AsiaOne
Portuguese Economy Minister Manuel Pinho resigned after making an offensive gesture at an opposition MP during the state of the nation debate in parliament on Thursday.
Pinho placed his two index fingers above his head, a sign representing two horns which in Portugal means calling someone a cuckold, while looking at the leader of the communist parliamentary group, Bernandino Soares.
Soares said he had made a remark about Pinho’s handling of the troubled Aljustrel mine in southern Portugal, but added the comment did not merit such a reaction.
Prime Minister Jose Socrates said: ‘Nothing justifies this gesture and it’s not admissable. This should not have happened. The minister is conscious of how this affects the image of the government. So during the debate he communicated his desire to resign and I accepted it.’
