- Title: Portugal's Costa votes as ruling Socialists hope to retain power
- Date: 6th October 2019
- Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (OCTOBER 6, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF PRIME MINISTER AND SOCIALIST CANDIDATE, ANTONIO COSTA, WAITING TO CAST HIS VOTE AT POLLING STATION COSTA SHAKING HANDS WITH WOMAN, GIVING ID CARD AND SHAKING HANDS WITH BOARD MEMBERS, GETTING BALLOT AND WALKING BEHIND VOTING BOOTH TO FILL BALLOT COSTA CASTING HIS VOTE, SHAKING HANDS AND LEAVING (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PRIME MINISTER AND SOCIALIST CANDIDATE. ANTONIO COSTA. SAYING: "I think what we have to do is to hope that the citizens have great electoral participation. During elections, every one of the votes counts, every vote decides and it's fundamental that everyone participates. For so many years we have had the freedom of choosing, I have already exercised mine (freedom of choosing) and now I hope that everyone does the same. Good day to everyone." VARIOUS OF COSTA GREETING SUPPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRIME MINISTER AND SOCIALIST CANDIDATE, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING: "The expectation I have is to have great participation. Elections are the big party of democracy and it's a good chance for each citizen to choose what they want for their future." VARIOUS OF COSTA LEAVING
- Embargoed: 20th October 2019 10:39
- Keywords: Portugal Prime Minister Antonio Costa Portugal elections Costa votes Socialists ballots
- Location: LISBON, PORTUGAL
- City: LISBON, PORTUGAL
- Country: Portugal
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001AZYJVIF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa voted on Sunday (October 6) morning in an election that the Socialists are expected to win without an outright majority, leaving the fate of potential allies as the main question.
Costa said he hoped for high electoral participation as it was a "good chance for each citizen to choose what they want for their future".
Opinion polls indicate the Socialists will come top with between 36.5% and 38.8% of the vote but will need one or more parties to back them to stay in government. Costa's minority government has been backed by two far-left parties since 2015.
Costa's government has been praised by Brussels and at home for combining fiscal discipline with measures to promote growth after recession and the austerity of Portugal's 2010-14 debt crisis.
(Production: Marco Trujillo, Juan Antonio Dominguez, Miguel Gutierrez) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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