If the Executive loses it, as expected, the President of the Republic will have to decide whether to call for early elections a year after the previous ones or propose a new candidate as Prime Minister.

Portugal's prime minister proposed on Wednesday a confidence vote in his year-old minority government, risking his own dismissal as the main opposition parties vowed to defeat him.

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said on Wednesday he would submit his year-old minority government to a motion of confidence, which could lead to its dismissal if the two main opposition parties vote to reject it, as they have indicated.

Portugal could be headed for its third general election in three years after parliament scheduled a confidence vote next week on the center-right minority government, which has been under pressure for weeks over the business ties of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.

Portugal could face its third early parliamentary election in just over three years after Prime Minister Luis Montenegro proposed a confidence motion in his centre-right minority government.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said he plans to seek a confidence vote in a parliament where he only has minority backing, after struggling to put an end to speculation about potential conflicts of interest related to a company owned by his family.

Portugal's cabinet has decided to go ahead with a motion of confidence in the centre-right government that is opposed by the main opposition parties, it said on Thursday, with a parliamentary vote expected to take place next Tuesday.

Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said on Wednesday he would submit his year-old minority government to a motion of confidence, which could lead to its dismissal if the two main opposition parties vote to reject it,

Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro is facing the possibility of returning to the polls in a few weeks, just one year after coming to power. However, the PSD's parliamentary group president Hugo Soares said the Socialists were "seeking political squabbles and the government's downfall",