PORTUGAL: Socialist caretaker Prime Minister Jose Socrates closes his political campaign in Lisbon

Record ID: 345173

  • Title: PORTUGAL: Socialist caretaker Prime Minister Jose Socrates closes his political campaign in Lisbon
  • Date: 4th June 2011
  • Summary: VARIOUS SOCRATES LEAVING RALLY
  • Embargoed: 19th June 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Portugal, Portugal
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA43ZAGGS8YKUJEOKVZNYH189VR
  • Story Text: Portugal's Socialist caretaker prime minister ended his campaign on Friday (June 3) ahead of this weekend's snap general election with a rally in Lisbon where he promised voters his government would be strong, responsible and capable of uniting the country's different political forces.
    "Whoever leads must be conscious they have to be firm, firm in action. Everyone will not like the measures taken, it is necessary to have justice and it is necessary to be firm with decisions and to go forward," Prime Minister Jose Socrates said addressing party supporters in the Portuguese capital.
    Portugal will vote on Sunday (June 5) in snap elections for a new government that may need a solid majority in parliament to convince markets it can implement the terms of a 78 billion euro international bailout.
    The election race has been a close contest between the Socialist party and the opposition Social Democrats led by Pedro Passos-Coelho who has a narrow lead in polls.
    Socrates urged voters to cast their ballots in favour of his party, highlighting experience and the ability to unite both left and right as major strong points.
    "A vote for the SP is a vote, is also a secure vote from this point of view. The SP proposes a moderate government, responsible, realistic. A competent, firm and peaceful government but also one that can promote social agreement and I want to say this clearly - our country has never needed to be in social agreement more than now. That is why the SP is the central political force capable of uniting left and right, capable of achieving social unity, capable of promoting understanding. That is why a vote for SP is secure vote," Socrates said as he was cheered on by supporters.
    Both parties have vowed to stick to the terms of the bailout deal with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, but the country needs a stable government to pass the required economic reforms and austerity steps.
    Socrates' minority government collapsed in March after the opposition rejected the administration's latest austerity package, his government having been hostage to complex negotiations with the opposition for over a year.
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