and personal relationship between Hintze Ribeiro, the party chief, and Franco, chairman of the cabinet, were not cordial. The press writing around this time indicated that a full rupture was inevitable, owing to the differences of opinion. A fissure developed during the 13 February 1901 session: João Franco made a speech on overseas tax policies, which did not please the government, and indicated his open opposition. On 14 May, deputy Malheiro Reimão strongly attacked the income tax policy, which was, the next day, also attacked by João Franco, who boldly explained the reasons why he opposed the actions. These debates eventually resulted in the dissolution of the elected chamber, which was a controversial action on the part of the government. The government then revoked the electoral law, and substituted it (on 8 August 1901) with a comprehensive law, then immediately held general elections, resulting in João Franco and his political colleagues being disenfranchised. This reinforced the split, resulting in the creation of a new party, the Liberal Regenerator Party, commonly called the Franquistas, for its new political leader. Five years later, the administration of the country was actively party-oriented, and the Franquistas acquired several supporters. The tobacco concession and other questions, galvanized public opinion and the two mainlines parties, the Progressives and Regenerators, were incapable of maintaining their support, causing the abandon of several deputies to other parties. Prime Minister In May 1906, tired of continued politicization, the King requested João Franco form a new government: it was composed of João Franco, as president of the council for the kingdom; Ernesto Driesel Schroeter, Finances; Luís Cipriano Coelho de Magalhães, Foreign Relations; Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos, Marines/Navy; António Carlos Coelho de Vasconcelos Porto, War; José de Abreu do Couto Amorim Novais, Justice; and José Malheiro Reimão, Public Works. By the time the proclamation was written the first Liberal Regenerator ministry had already adopted its first program, supported by the Progressive Party, in the self-styled concentração-liberal (liberal concentration). They immediately settled the tobacco issue in October 1906, with a new contract, and then implemented reforms, which they presented to the parliament: laws on public accounting, ministerial responsibility, the press and the repression of anarchists. During the 20 November 1906 session, his ministry expelled from parliament many of the Republican Party deputies, including Afonso Costa and Alexandre Braga for their excessive zeal. During the entire legislative session João Franco made several remarks