Portugal's opposition candidate needs a big surge if he is to beat Socialist favourite
Record ID:
1435096
Portugal's opposition candidate needs a big surge if he is to beat Socialist favourite
- 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) (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER AND CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER, RUI RIO, SAYING: "For PSD and not only, but particularly for PSD, it's (important) to be able to explain to people that it is absolutely critical to vote and not to stay home because if people stay home they are giving the decision to others and not participating in that decision - so after (if they don't vote) they can't complain." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER AND CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER, RUI RIO, SAYING: "If I make an assessment of the Socialist Party's four years in government, of course there is a lot to fix and a lot of negative points, but I think that health issues are what touch the Portuguese the most. The deterioration of the National Health Service we have experienced is particularly worrying. Naturally, solving problems is not easy but there are some things that can easily be fixed and improved."
- 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: LVA003AZJKSHZ
- 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)
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