(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The governing Socialist Party (PS) now has a smaller advantage over the opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) in Portugal, according to a poll by Marktest released by Diario de Noticias and TSF. 35.9 per cent of respondents would back the PS in the next election, while 30.9 per cent would back the PSD.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The governing Socialist Party (PS) now has a smaller advantage over the opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) in Portugal, according to a poll by Marktest released by Diario de Noticias and TSF. 35.9 per cent of respondents would back the PS in the next election, while 30.9 per cent would back the PSD.
Support for the Socialists is down 4.6 points since January, whereas the Social Democrats have gained 1.7 points.
The Leftist Bloc (BE) is third with 10.6 per cent, followed by the Social Democratic Centre / Popular Party (CDS/PP) with 9.5 per cent, and the Unitarian Democratic Coalition (CDU)—which includes the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Environmental Party "The Greens" (OV)—with 6.8 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 May 2008, Manuela Ferreira Leite was elected as the new leader of the right-leaning PSD.
In the September 2009 election, the Socialists secured 36.6 per cent of the vote and 97 seats, earning a minority mandate. Socrates was ratified as prime minister.
Earlier this month, Socrates presented the government’s austerity plan, which seeks to bring Portugal’s public deficit to 2.8 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2013, in line with European Union (EU) standards.
The Portuguese prime minister defended the plan, saying, "This program has been established along the principles of justice and equity in the redistribution of wealth. There will be no increase in tax, with the single exception of income higher than 150,000 (euro), which will be imposed at the level of 45 per cent."
Polling Data
What party would you vote for in a general election?
|
Feb. 2010
|
Jan. 2010
|
Nov. 2009
|
|
|
Socialist Party (PS)
|
35.9%
|
40.5%
|
41.7%
|
|
Social Democratic Party (PSD)
|
30.9%
|
29.2%
|
25.6%
|
|
Leftist Bloc (BE)
|
10.6%
|
5.5%
|
8.0%
|
|
Social Democratic Centre / Popular Party (CDS/PP)
|
9.5%
|
10.2%
|
12.1%
|
|
Unitarian Democratic Coalition (CDU)
|
6.8%
|
10.6%
|
6.5%
|
Source: Marktest / Diario de Noticias / TSF
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 804 Portuguese adults, conducted from Feb. 16 to Feb. 21, 2010. Margin of error is 3.45 per cent.
