LISBON (Reuters) - The Portuguese could re-elect their centre-right government in a general election on Sunday, although it may fall short of winning an absolute majority, bringing less political stability after years of austerity and hardship under a debt crisis.
The election is the first since the Iberian country of 10 million exited a bailout last year. Yet, despite deep spending cuts and the biggest tax hikes in living memory, polls indicate the Portuguese will stick with the government that guided them through the crisis and exited the bailout by international lenders.
The latest polls, released on Friday, gave Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho's ruling coalition a lead of between five and 12 points over centre-left Socialist opponent Antonio Costa.
But if Passos Coelho fails to pick up more than the around 38 percent that he has polled in recent days, he will fall short of an absolute majority in the 230-seat parliament, leading to a potentially unstable minority government. In the 2011 election his coalition won 50 percent of the vote, ensuring a majority.
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http://report24uk.info/article/324626/portuguese-may-reelect-austerity-minded-centre-right-governmentLike most people, I often forget Portugal even exists.
