On last day of campaign, Portugal's opposition leader hopes for a big last minute surge

Record ID: 1435128

  • Title: On last day of campaign, Portugal's opposition leader hopes for a big last minute surge
  • Date: 4th October 2019
  • Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (OCTOBER 4, 2019) (REUTERS) SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PSD) SUPPORTERS MARCHING ON STREET WAVING FLAGS AND CHANTING "PSD" OPPOSITION PSD LEADER RUI RIO WALKING IN CENTRAL LISBON WITH SUPPORTERS VARIOUS OF MARCH IN PROGRESS MAN ON STILTS WEARING FEATHERS MARCHING WITH THE CROWD MARCH IN PROGRESS RIO MARCHING WITH SUPPORTERS AND WAVING RIO MARCHING WITH SUPPORTERS AND DOING VICTORY SIGN MAN WATCHING FROM BALCONY VARIOUS OF RIO MARCHING WITH SUPPORTERS CHANTING "PSD" (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PSD SUPPORTER, PEDRO ANTUNES, SAYING: "I hope Dr. Rio wins the election in Portugal because I think he is the ideal man to be prime minister, not only because he is serious, but also the proposals he presents, in my view, are the best proposals for a country developing in the first world, a European country." (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PSD SUPPORTER, NUNO SOARES, SAYING: "He is very good for the future. Obviously we cannot continue to accept that the country continues in this sad path." (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PSD SUPPORTER, DULCE, SAYING: "I'm hoping for a PSD victory. Let's see what happens...The polls say the Socialists will win without an absolute majority. My dream is to see the PSD win. We will see what happens." PSD SUPPORTERS AT RALLY AND RIO ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PSD), RUI RIO, SAYING: "My last word is for our adversaries: proceed democratically. There are many differences between us. In some cases they are gigantic. But all are for Portugal and now we will wait for the democratic verdict of the people. In a democracy, it's the people, more than anyone, who are the boss. Long live PSD, long live Lisbon, long live Portugal."
  • Embargoed: 18th October 2019 20:46
  • Keywords: Portugal election PSD opposition leader Rui Rio Rui Rio Rio Portuguese opposition candidate
  • Location: LISBON, PORTUGAL
  • City: LISBON, PORTUGAL
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA001AZON0W7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The leader of Portugal's opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD), Rui Rio, 62, on Friday (October 4) met supporters in central Lisbon on the last day of campaigning ahead of Sunday's (October 6) parliamentary election.
    He is hoping for big last minute surge in order to beat current favourite Prime Minister Antonio Costa whose Socialist Party, according to polls, is set to get the most votes but likely will fall short of a majority.
    The PSD is still recovering from their worst-ever ballot box result in May's European election, of 22%.
    Polling at around 30% now, they are likely to lose seats compared to 2015. Their coalition partner in the previous government, the rightist CDS/PP, has been losing support, too, making it unlikely they will govern Portugal.
    (Production: Miguel Pereira, Marco Trujillo, Catherine Macdonald)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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