Portugal's Socialists win election

In Portugal, the center-left Socialists win Sunday’s general election with 36.6% of the vote and are preparing to govern for another four years. 

The main opposition Social Democratic Party came second with almost 28%. The Socialists, however, are 10 seats short of a majority in the 230-seat parliament. To ensure that its legislation is approved, the government will need support from other parties. 

A healthy economy, with growth of 2.1 % last



year and unemployment at around 6%, helped the Socialist Party back into the Sao Bento Palace, the seat of power in Lisbon. 

Antonio Costa, the Socialist leader and incumbent prime minister, said in his victory speech that he intends to continue his business-friendly policies and prudent fiscal management. Turnout in election was just 54.5 per cent, the lowest level for a general election since Portugal returned to democracy in 1974.