(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Portugal's Socialist Party (PS) is leading all other political organizations in the country, according to a poll by Marktest released by Diario de Noticias and TSF. 40 per cent of respondents would back the ruling party in the next legislative election, down three points since January.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) is second with 29 per cent, followed by the Unitarian Democratic Coalition (CDU)—which includes the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Environmental Party "The Greens" (OV)—with 10 per cent, the Leftist Bloc (BE) with nine per cent, and the Social Democratic Centre / Popular Party (CDS/PP) with seven 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 April, Luis Marques Mendes became the new leader of the Social Democrats, substituting former prime minister Pedro Santana Lopes.

Each European Union (EU) member state presides over the Council of the EU for a period of six months, in accordance with a pre-established rotation. This month, Portugal took over these responsibilities from Germany.

An official statement by the government claims that Portugal's main priorities during the six-month period will include outlining safe labour reforms across Europe. The document reads: "The search for a balance between flexibility and security in the labour market, requires that adequate consideration be given to several elements: life-long learning, social protection mechanisms, active labour market policies, functional flexibility and the differences between the situations and models of the member states. (...) We will also seek to include a gender-based perspective in all policy domains."

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