Portugal’s Socialists eye alliances after election win

Portuguese Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Antonio Costa speaks to supporters after wining the Portugal election, in Lisbon Sunday night, Oct. 6, 2019. Portugal's center-left Socialist Party has collected the most votes in Sunday's general election, leaving it poised to continue in government for another four years. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

LISBON, Portugal — Portugal’s Socialist Party is mulling its options for alliances with other parties after it fell short of a parliamentary majority in a general election.

The centre-left Socialists are preparing to stay in power for another four years after collecting 36.6% of the votes in Sunday’s ballot. The main opposition Social Democratic Party came second with almost 28%.

The Socialists, however, are 10 seats shy of a majority in the 230-seat parliament. To ensure its legislation is approved, the government will need support from other parties.

The obvious candidates for an alliance are the radical Left Bloc, which snared 19 seats, and the Communist Party, which got 12.

Those two parties allied with the Socialists during the four-year term that has just ended.

The Associated Press