Portuguese PM says ready to face political debates

Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho on Tuesday responded to criticism over his tax evasion accusations, saying he is ready to face political debates before the general elections.

"I want to point out to all the ladies and gentlemen that my family and I are all prepared in this year of elections to face all types of political debates," he said at the closing session of a political meeting of his Social Democratic Party.

The remarks came after local media reported on Monday that Passos Coelho was accused of tax evasion by former director of the Social Security Institute Edmundo Martinho, who directed the institute when former Prime Minister Jose Socrates was in cabinet.

Martinho claimed that Passos Coelho evaded tax during the period of five years between 1999 and 2004.

He came under fire by opposition parties on Sunday, with the Socialist party demanding a "full explanation" on behalf of the prime minister and the Communist Party saying that Passos Coelho's "excuse" was "lame."

Passos Coelho admitted that he had a Social Security debt but he did not use his position at his advantage.

He has now paid off around 4 million euros, he said, adding that he was never notified of his debt and only became aware of it until 2012. Endi