Polls point to historic victory for Portugal’s Socialists

Portugal’s opposition Socialists are within reach of winning an absolute parliamentary majority in tomorrow’s general election.

The latest opinion polls give them up to 47 per cent of the vote, compared to the ruling Social Democrat Party’s predicted 31 per cent. Socialist leader Jose Socrates said the electoral campaign has shown his party wants a country that is modern, competitive and fair because that was the example set by former leader Antonio Guterres. Pollsters see 45 per cent as the mark for the Socialists to win an absolute majority in the 230-seat parliament. Some analysts are predicting Prime Minister Santana Lopes may step down if his party records too dismal a showing. He warned voters against electing the opposition, saying no businessman, saver, small or medium investor would put money into a country run by socialists and leftist parties. This will be Portugal’s fourth election in three years and voters must be hoping it will herald some positive changes – boosting the economy and cutting unemployment will be top of the new leader’s to-do list.

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