Following the elections in September 2009, outgoing Prime Minister José Socrates has just formed his new government and has offered the labour and social protection portfolio to Maria Helena André, who has accepted. Maria Helena André has served as Deputy General Secretary of the ETUC since 2003, where she has principally been in charge of social dialogue. She was re-elected to the position in 2007. Mrs André was previously Confederal Secretary of the ETUC and head of the international department of Portugal’s UGT trade union. The ETUC welcomes this appointment and is convinced that Maria Helena André will be equal to the new duties entrusted to her.