Portugal Socialists head for win

[Ghost Dog]

Source: BBC

The governing Socialist Party of Jose Socrates is set to retain power in Portugal's elections, exit polls say.

The polls indicate that the party has won about 40% of the vote, but failed to retain its absolute majority in parliament.

Challenger Manuela Ferreira Leite, of the centre-right Social Democrats, is forecast to win under 30% of the vote.

Mr Socrates promised to invest heavily in public work projects to tackle Portugal's rising unemployment.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8277846.stm

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This is a not a bad result in the circumstances for the moderate left in Portugal, which earlier had been forecast to lose, I gather. The "Social Democrats" in Portugal are really quite far to the right (traditional conservatives) in European terms. There are significant not-so-small parties to the left and right of both of these. Socrates has a choice between attempting to forge a difficult coalition, or forming a minority government.

[New Dawn]

1. K&R

[ro1942]

2. All right

one for the little guy

[burrowowl]

3. Good Show!

[earcandle]

4. I vote for who Alexander wants! My scientest friend in Portugal... I am sure it is Socrates!

[girl gone mad]

5. Portugal - another socialist economy that's currently outperforming our capitalist economy.

[Ken Burch]

6. There are some parties to the Socialist party's left that they could get support from

It would mean a somewhat more radical program but...is this a BAD thing?

BTW, why would anybody call a center-right party "The Social Democrats"? Does this actually fool any Portuguese voters into thinking they back social democracy when they don't?

[Vidar]

7. K&R

[David__77]

8. Hopefully the communist and left make coalition with them.

And hopefully they demand the socialists live up to their name for once.