(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Portugal’s governing party remains on top in the country, according to a poll by Marktest released by Diario de Noticias and TSF. 38 per cent of respondents would vote for the Socialist Party (PS) in the next general election, up two points since February.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Portugal’s governing party remains on top in the country, according to a poll by Marktest released by Diario de Noticias and TSF. 38 per cent of respondents would vote for the Socialist Party (PS) in the next general election, up two points since February.
The Social Democratic Party (PSD) is second with 32 per cent, followed by the Unitarian Democratic Coalition (CDU)—which includes the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Environmental Party "The Greens" (OV)—with 12 per cent, the Leftist Bloc (BE) with 10 per cent, and the Social Democratic Centre / Popular Party (CDS/PP) with four per cent.
The Socialists won the February 2005 parliamentary ballot, garnering 45.3 per cent of the vote and electing 121 lawmakers to the 230-seat Assembly of the Republic. Socialist leader Jose Socrates took over as prime minister in March. In September 2007, Luis Filipe Menezes was elected as the new leader of the right-leaning PSD.
Last month, Socrates announced a cut of one percentage point to the Value Added Tax (VAT) starting Jul. 1. His decision came after it was revealed that Portugal’s public debt has decreased to 2.6 per cent, the lowest in 30 years. The prime minister defended his judgement on the VAT, saying, "It is a responsible and sensitive measure, because it is the reduction we can handle in a moment of international economic uncertainty."
Socrates had increased the country’s VAT from 19 to 21 per cent in 2005; it will stand at 20 per cent in the second half of 2008.
Polling Data
What party would you vote for in a general election?
|
Mar. 2008 |
Feb. 2008 |
Jan. 2008 |
|
|
Socialist Party (PS) |
38% |
36% |
38% |
|
Social Democratic Party (PSD) |
32% |
33% |
34% |
|
Unitarian Democratic Coalition (CDU) |
12% |
13% |
10% |
|
Leftist Bloc (BE) |
10% |
8% |
7% |
|
Social Democratic Centre / |
4% |
6% |
6% |
Source: Marktest / Diario de Noticias / TSF
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 815 Portuguese adults, conducted from Mar. 17 to Mar. 20, 2008. Margin of error is 3.45 per cent.
