(7 Oct 2019) Portugal's Socialist Party had little time Monday to savor its general election victory, as tough negotiations for parliamentary support loomed and the economy braces for leaner times.
The center-left Socialists won Sunday's general election with 36.6 percent of the vote and are preparing to govern for another four years.
The main opposition Social Democratic Party came second with almost 28 percent.
The Socialists, however, are 10 seats shy of a majority in the 230-seat parliament. To ensure its legislation is approved, the government will need support from other parties.
Leading analyst, professor Antonio Pinto Costa, said the Socialists could face tougher negotiations with parties on the left demanding more on issues such as minimum wage.
He said it will be a challenge for leader Antonio Costa, who has vowed to keep the books straight and work for financial stability.
It is also the first time a far-right party got a seat in parliament since 1974, with the Chega (Enough) party electing one lawmaker.
Professor Pinto Costa said it could signal the party gaining "more attention, more support, more visibility and ability to mobilise."
A healthy economy, with growth of 2.1 percent last year and unemployment at around 6 percent, helped the Socialist Party back into the Sao Bento Palace, the seat of power in Lisbon.
The Socialists have also earned praise around Europe for taming Portugal's chronic overspending, with Finance Minister Mario Centeno bringing the budget deficit close to zero this year.
Costa said in his victory speech that he intends to continue his business-friendly policies and prudent fiscal management.
But economic troubles are brewing in Europe, and once the election results were known the radical Left Bloc and Portuguese Communist Party, the most obvious candidates for an alliance, were quick to table their demands for more spending.
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