 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portugal's center-right Social Democrats (PSD) scored a convincing win over the Socialists in a general election on Monday, punishing the outgoing government for a 78 billion euro ($113.84 billion) bailout that will bring deep austerity. The election should end months of political uncertainty that began with the collapse of the Socialist government in March and led Lisbon to become the third country in the eurozone to seek a bailout after Greece and Ireland. Results showed the PSD won 105 seats, or 39 percent of the vote, while the rightist CDS party obtained 24, allowing the two traditional government allies to have a strong majority in the 230-seat parliament. The Socialists won 73 seats, 24 less than in the last election. "I will direct all my efforts as rapidly as possible to guarantee the country and the Portuguese will have a majority government led by the PSD that will give stability for the next four years," PSD leader Pedro Passos Coelho told his party after the election. CDS leader Paulo Portas said he was ready to rule together with the Social Democrats, allowing the incoming government to implement the austerity measures agreed with the EU and the IMF as part of the rescue package. "The country has shown unequivocal will to open a window of confidence and hope for the future," said Passos Coelho. Passos Coelho said he wanted Portugal "to win back confidence of markets which is essential for the country itself to recover." The election result showed that many Portuguese blamed the Socialists for the country's economic crisis. "It's a win that shows a big red card for Jose Socrates, who has left this country on its knees," said Julio Peixoto, 43, carrying a giant PSD flag outside the party's election campaign headquarters in Lisbon. Socrates, who resigned as prime minister after his government failed to pass the austerity measures, said he was responsible for the defeat and quit as Socialist party head. Reuters |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
