Portugal's opposition candidate needs a big surge if he is to beat Socialist favourite

Record ID: 1435095

  • Title: Portugal's opposition candidate needs a big surge if he is to beat Socialist favourite
  • Date: 3rd October 2019
  • Summary: ALMADA, PORTUGAL (FILE - SEPTEMBER 24, 2019) (REUTERS) RIO ENTERING CAR CAR LEAVING PSD candidate Rui Rio at election debate ahead of the October 6 general election. LISBON, PORTUGAL (FILE - SEPTEMBER 23, 2019) (REUTERS) RIO ARRIVING FOR TV DEBATE CANDIDATES PREPARING FOR DEBATE RIO PREPARING FOR DEBATE (LEFT TO RIGHT) RIO, RIGHTIST CDS-PP LEADER ASSUNCAO CRISTAS, SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER AND PRIME MINISTER ANTONIO COSTA TV SCREEN DISPLAYING THE SIX CANDIDATES TAKING PART IN DEBATE CANDIDATES SEATED PREPARING FOR DEBATE Rio and PSD party members meet Prime Minister Antonio Costa and members of the Socialist-led government. LISBON, PORTUGAL (FILE) (REUTERS) RIO WITH PARTY MEMBERS DURING A MEETING WITH COSTA AND MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT RIO SEATED IN FRONT OF PRIME MINISTER COSTA RIO AND PARTY MEMBERS AT MEETING RIO
  • Embargoed: 17th October 2019 09:52
  • Keywords: Rui Rio PSD Social Democrats Portugal opposition
  • Location: ALMADA, LISBON & LEIRIA, PORTUGAL
  • City: ALMADA, LISBON & LEIRIA, PORTUGAL
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA005AZJKSHZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The leader of Portugal's opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD), Rui Rio, 62, will need a big last minute surge in the October 6 general election if he is to beat current favourite Prime Minister Antonio Costa whose Socialist Party is set to get the most votes but fall short of a majority, polls indicate.
    An economist and former mayor of Porto, Rio has strongly criticized the management of Portugal's national health service under the Socialist-led government, promising improvements in the sector because "health issues are what touch the Portuguese the most."
    Under Rio, the PSD proposes to lower the tax burden by charging less taxes on the electricity bill and has promised measures for private investment and exports such as strengthening investment tax credit, retention and reinvestment of retained earnings or a reduction on minimal wage taxation.
    Polls published on Wednesday (October 2) showed a rise in support for the PSD which fetched 30%, up from 28% in Catolica University's previous poll in May, when the front-running Socialists had 39%.
    The Catolica University poll for Publico daily and RTP television on Wednesday indicated the Socialist would get 37% of the share of the vote.
    Under Portugal's proportional representation system, an absolute majority has previously been achievable with 42% to 45% of the vote, but some analysts say that threshold could drop to 39-40% due to a growing distance between the top two parties and emergence of a new relevant player.
    (Production: Miguel Pereira, Miguel Gutierrez)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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