Portugal's elections
September 27, 2009
Portugal's ruling Socialists are expected to win the vote on Sunday, Sept. 27, but Prime Minister Jose Socrates faces the prospect of losing the absolute majority that has allowed him to impose ambitious reforms.
The most recent poll showed the center-left Socialists winning 38 percent of the vote with the main challengers, the Social Democrat Party led by Manuela Ferreira Leite, winning 30 percent.
The possibility that Portugal could be governed by a weak minority government has raised concerns that the country could lack the strong leadership it requires to tackle the effects of the economic crisis.
The country's unemployment level of 9.1 percent is the highest since the 1980s and the economy is expected to shrink by nearly four percent this year. The government's budget deficit is also expected to reach about six percent of gross domestic product this year.
Ferreira Leite has also accused Socrates of wasteful public spending after his government's major reforms, which have included changes to pensions and the civil service.
Socrates has, however, promised to further boost public spending to create jobs, with plans such as a new Lisbon airport and a high-speed train network linking Spain and Portugal.
ca/dpa/rtre
Editor: Toma Tasovac