- Title: PORTUGAL: VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS IN GENERAL ELECTION.
- Date: 26th October 1969
- Summary: CAETANO AT POLLING BOOTH; VOTING; ELECTION POSTERS; QUEUES OF VOTERS; AN OPPOSITION LEADER, DR. MARIO SOARES, VOTES. Initials JB/VS/PN/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 10th November 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LISBON, PORTUGAL
- Country: Portugal
- Reuters ID: LVADLMM5XRR80TM04SXVP9U07NTH
- Story Text: VOTERS TURNED OUT IN FORCE TODAY (26 OCTOBER) FOR PORTUGAL'S GENERAL ELECTIONS - THE FIRST AT WHICH A MILITANT OPPOSITION HAS OPPOSED THE GOVERNMENT FOR 40 YEARS. BUT THE RULING NATIONAL UNION, HEADED BY PRIME MINISTER DR. MARCELO CAETANO, SAYS IT HAS WON ALL OF THE 130 PARLIAMENTARY SEATS.
VOTING WAS HEAVY IN PORTUGAL AND IN ITS OVERSEAS TERRITORIES OF ANGOLA AND MOZAMBIQUE IN AFRICA AND THE ISLAND OF TIMOR NORTH OF AUSTRALIA. IN PORTUGAL QUEUES OF VOTERS FORMED AND WAITED PATIENTLY IN THE SUN SOMETIMES UP TO THREE HOURS TO CAST THEIR VOTES.
THREE OPPOSITION PARTIES, INCLUDING THE TINY MONARCHIST PARTY, CONTESTED THE ELECTIONS, BUT THEY DID NOT WIN ANY SEATS.
THE ELECTORS VOTED FOR LISTS OF CANDIDATES AND NOT FOR INDIVIDUALS.
THE ELECTION DOES NOT DIRECTLY AFFECT THE GOVERNMENT OF PORTUGAL WHICH IS APPOINTED BY PRESIDENTIAL DECREE AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO PARLIAMENT. HOWEVER, THE PRIME MINISTER, DR. CAETANO HAS PROMISED TO GIVE PARLIAMENT MORE AUTHORITY IN THE FUTURE.
DR. CAETANO, A 62-YEAR-OLD PROFESSOR OF LAW, HAS INTRODUCED GRADUAL REFORMS INTO SOME OF PORTUGAL'S SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL STRUCTURES.
THE ONLY SIZEABLE SUPPORT FOR THE OPPOSITION PARTIES CAME FROM VOTERS IN WORKING CLASS AREAS OF LISBON AND FROM THE EXTREME NORTH OF THE COUNTRY.
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