Portugal's Ruling Centre-Right Coalition Wins General Elections

EU | October 5, 2015, Monday // 10:10|  views

President of the Portuguese Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho (L) congratulates Popular Party (CDS-PP) president Paulo Portas during their victory speech in the legislative elections, in Lisbon, Portugal, 04 October 2015

The ruling centre-right coalition, composed of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the People's Party (CDS-PP), won the general elections held in Portugal on Sunday.

With almost all votes counted, the centre-right coalition leads with 37 % of the votes, followed by the Socialists with 32 %.

However the coalition was the only party to lose electoral support, with the share of its seats dropping to 104 and it remained short of 12 MPs from achieving an absolute majority in the 230-member parliament.

The Socialist Party (PS) increased its number of MPs from 74 to 85, the Left Bloc won 19 seats, while the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) will have 17 MPs.

The Party for People, Animals and Nature entered parliament for the first time after winning one seat.

According to initial estimates, despite the heavy rain, the voter turnout was higher than in had been in 2009 and 2011.

The general elections were largely seen as a referendum on four years of austerity, the BBC informs.

The leader of the Socialists, Antonio Costa, admitted defeat and congratulated Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho.

Coelho expressed readiness to negotiate with other parties represented in parliament in order to pursue implementation of the “necessary reforms”.

Despite losing almost one third of the votes, the party is expected to continue with its policies which have been in place since 2011 when the country was granted bailout.

Although, the unemployment rate has decreased for two-and-a-half-years many regard the recovery as fragile.

 

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Tags: Portugal, elections, parliament, PSD, CDS-PP, PS, Left Bloc, PCP, Pedro Passos Coelho, austerity, bailout, reforms, coalition

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