Portugal elects president amid economic worries

[Joanne98]

Source: AP

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal's financial crisis weighed heavily in the country's presidential election Sunday, with opinion polls indicating an emphatic victory for the conservative incumbent after the Socialist government enacted deeply unpopular austerity measures.

Though the head of state has no executive powers the re-election of Anibal Cavaco Silva, who is supported by the main opposition Social Democratic Party, would add to political pressure on the minority government as it scrambles to restore confidence in Portugal's ailing economy.

Years of feeble growth have made Portugal one of the 17-nation eurozone's weakest members and deepened Portuguese fears about their country's economic future.

"Voters will take this opportunity to punish the ruling Socialist Party for the country's economic difficulties," said Antonio Barroso, an analyst with Eurasia Group in New York.



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[ck4829]

1. When the left acts like the right, they lose

[nyy1998]

2. The problem here is that the Left-wing party hand was forced by the EU budget rules.

Any incumbent party in this situation would've had their asses kicked.