PORTUGAL-ELECTION/PORTAS Portugal's deputy PM confident of majority for ruling coalition

Record ID: 141146

  • Title: PORTUGAL-ELECTION/PORTAS Portugal's deputy PM confident of majority for ruling coalition
  • Date: 12th September 2015
  • Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (SEPTEMBER 11, 2015) (REUTERS) DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER PAULO PORTAS LISTENING TO REPORTER'S QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, PAULO PORTAS, SAYING: "Yes, I think we will win with a majority. I'm confident, both on the financial side and the economic side, the results are very clear." PORTAS LISTENING TO REPORTER'S QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, PAULO PORTAS, SAYING: "I will tell our citizens every day that in a complex world with risks in the international economic data and situation, the best we can do is to have stability in Portugal. Stability means a majority and a majority with a clear programme. I think, but it's just my opinion, that is the programme of the coalition." PORTAS FOLDING HIS HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, PAULO PORTAS, SAYING: "The social question, unemployment. We had unemployment at 17.5 (percent), that was very dangerous, that was a social fracture. Unemployment is decreasing since 2013 and is now 11.9 (percent). We need more, we need more job creation. I think with confidence and with investment we will have that job creation." PORTAS LISTENING TO REPORTER'S QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, PAULO PORTAS, SAYING: "We are confident that the work we did in our country, taking into account the exceptional conditions that we had to work with, we will have an evaluation from voters that will give a victory to the coalition. I think the Portuguese middle class, where some of the undecided voters are, know that in the euro, in a highly complex world, with uncertainties and risks, the best in democracy is the guarantee of a stable government, a long lasting majority and that is an absolute majority." PORTAS LISTENING TO REPORTER'S QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, PAULO PORTAS, SAYING: "I think the Portuguese will have very good sense choosing on October 4 and they will avoid any kind of risk of returning to the causes and consequences of what happened in 2011. No society goes through what the Portuguese went through without learning its due lessons and consequences." PORTAS LISTENING TO REPORTER'S QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, PAULO PORTAS, SAYING: "I think people know - in spite of having some doubts and reservations, and above all for having paid for the irresponsibility of 2011 - that our proposal is more stable, more prudent and produces results." PORTAS LISTENING TO REPORTER'S QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, PAULO PORTAS, SAYING: "If the outcome of the October 4 elections confirms a stable and lasting majority, with the coalition programme, I sincerely think we have the conditions to do four years, that from the economic and job creation point of view are clearly positive." PORTAS TALKING DURING INTERVIEW
  • Embargoed: 27th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Portugal
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABUDJ304GGK1ZLO0L6ZNPJ9XP9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Portugal's centre-right government is confident it will win an absolute majority at a general election next month as voters want to avoid any risk of returning to the economic instability that forced the country to seek a bailout, the deputy prime minister said in an interview with Reuters on Friday (September 11).
    "I think we will win with a majority. I'm confident, both on the financial side and the economic side, the results are very clear," Deputy Prime Minister Paulo Portas, the leader of the government's junior coalition partner, the conservative CDS-PP, told Reuters.
    "I will tell our citizens every day that in a complex world with risks in the international economic data and situation, the best we can do is to have stability in Portugal. Stability means a majority and a majority with a clear programme. I think, but it's just my opinion, that is the programme of the coalition," he added.
    Portugal holds a general election on October 4, which is widely seen as a gauge of the country's success in leaving a debt crisis and bailout behind, which led to three years of gruelling recession.
    The economy is now set to grow 1.6 percent this year and consumer confidence has returned to its highest levels since 2001, Portas said.
    "The social question, unemployment. We had unemployment at 17.5 (percent), that was very dangerous, that was a social fracture. Unemployment is decreasing since 2013 and is now 11.9 (percent). We need more, we need more job creation. I think with confidence and with investment we will have that job creation," said Portas.
    The country exited the bailout on schedule last year without needing any kind of extension or extra money.
    "We are confident that the work we did in our country, taking into account the exceptional conditions that we had to work with, we will have an evaluation from voters that will give a victory to the coalition. I think the Portuguese middle class, where some of the undecided voters are, know that in the euro, in a highly complex world, with uncertainties and risks, the best in democracy is the guarantee of a stable government, a long lasting majority and that is an absolute majority," Portas said.
    The deputy prime minister told Reuters that the Portuguese were not prepared to deliver the running of the country back to the opposition centre-left Socialists as they were the ones that sought a bailout in 2011.
    "I think the Portuguese will have very good sense choosing on October 4 and they will avoid any kind of risk of returning to the causes and consequences of what happened in 2011. No society goes through what the Portuguese went through without learning its due lessons and consequences," he said.
    He said the government would continue prudent economic policies such as ensuring that the budget deficit will remain under three percent of gross domestic product.
    The Socialists have promised to ease austerity and return more disposable income to families.
    "I think people know - in spite of having some doubts and reservations, and above all for having paid for the irresponsibility of 2011 - that our proposal is more stable, more prudent and produces results," he said.
    Despite opinion polls indicating a hung parliament, Portas ruled out any kind of 'Plan B' involving government with any other party than the current coalition.
    Analysts have warned that a hung parliament could lead to political instability or a weak minority government.
    "If the outcome of the October 4 elections confirms a stable and lasting majority, with the coalition programme, I sincerely think we have the conditions to do four years, that from the economic and job creation point of view are clearly positive," Portas said.
    The current coalition was elected after the collapse of the previous minority government led by the Socialists, who have also said they are also confident of winning a majority and do not intend to govern with other parties.
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