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

Record ID: 1435097

  • Title: Portugal's opposition candidate needs a big surge if he is to beat Socialist favourite
  • Date: 3rd October 2019
  • Summary: Opposition Social Democratic Party leader and candidate for the October 6 election Rui Rio campaigning at a hospital near lisbon. ALMADA, PORTUGAL (FILE - SEPTEMBER 24, 2019) (REUTERS) OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER AND CANDIDATE RUI RIO GETTING OUT OF CAR/GREETING HOSPITAL REPRESENTATIVES RIO WALKING IN HOSPITAL LOBBY WITH HOSPITAL REPRESENTATIVES
  • 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: LVA001AZJKSHZ
  • 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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