Portugal minister quits over Facebook 'slap' threat

09 Apr, 2016

Portugal's culture minister resigned on Friday after triggering a social media storm by threatening to give two journalists a "good slap" on his Facebook page. Joao Soares, the son of a former Portuguese president, blasted journalists Augusto Seabra et Vasco Pulido Valente after coming under fire in a stinging editorial in the Publico newspaper.
"A good slap would do them some good. And me as well," Soares wrote on Thursday morning, sparking angry criticism and calls for him to quit. He later defended himself saying he had "reacted not to opinions but to insults" and PM Antonio Costa was forced to apologise to the 2 journalists on his behalf.

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