(Angus Reid – CPOD Global Scan) – The opposition Socialist Party (PS) is dominating the political scene in Portugal, according to a poll by Marktest released by Diario de Noticias and TSF. 45.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the Socialists, headed by Jose Socrates.
(Angus Reid – CPOD Global Scan) – The opposition Socialist Party (PS) is dominating the political scene in Portugal, according to a poll by Marktest released by Diario de Noticias and TSF. 45.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the Socialists, headed by Jose Socrates.
The governing Social Democratic Party (PSD) is second with 27.7 per cent, followed by the Leftist Bloc (BE) with 8.1 per cent, the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) with 7.7 per cent and the Social Democratic Centre / Popular Party (CDS/PP) with 6.3 per cent.
The PSD’s Pedro Santana Lopes took over as prime minister in July 2004, after Jose Durao Barroso left the post to become president of the European Commission. Last month, Portuguese president Jorge Sampaio announced the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic, declaring that Santana Lopes lacked the “indispensable political conditions” to continue as head of government. A new legislative election was set for Feb. 20.
On Jan. 16, the Portuguese government announced that the 128 members of the paramilitary Republican National Guard (GNR) that are stationed in Iraq would be withdrawn on Feb. 12. The law enforcement officers have been working under Italian command in Nasiriya since November 2003.
On Jan. 22, the Socialists presented their election platform in Lisbon. The campaign plan calls for a reduction of the public work force and a referendum to ease the country’s abortion regulations.
Polling Data
What party would you vote for in a general election?
Socialist Party (PS) | 45.1% |
Social Democratic Party (PSD) | 27.7% |
Leftist Bloc (BE) | 8.1% |
Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) | 7.7% |
Social Democratic Centre / | 6.3% |
Source: Marktest / Diario de Noticias / TSF
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 801 Portuguese adults, conducted from Jan. 18 to Jan. 21, 2005. Margin of error is 3.46 per cent.
