Portugal's Socialist Party leads in election

In Sunday's general election, Portugal's Socialists were leading all parties with 36.8 per cent according to partial results released to the public.

Preliminary official results show the Socialists in Portugal with 36.8 per cent, while their closest rivals, the center-right, have 32.4 per cent of the vote in the country's general election on Sunday, according to AFP. Two exit polls on State television RTP and private television SIC show Prime Minister Jose Socrates winning the election but unable to retain a majority. The Portuguese Parliament holds 230 seats. Figures show the Socialists obtained between 99 and 106 seats. Prior to the start of the election, opinion poll surveys showed that 38 per cent of the vote would go to incumbent Prime Minister Jose Socrates, according to Euro News. It was also released that the abstention rate in the country was at 40 per cent, which is the highest since 1974 when a right-wing dictatorship was ended. Nevertheless, whoever wins the election will face dramatic times because Portugal is one of Europe’s poorest countries due to low levels of production and education. Portugal is at its highest number of unemployment since the 1980s.