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Portugal election: Socialists tipped to win as voting begins | Portugal election: Socialists tipped to win as voting begins |
(32 minutes later) | |
Voting has begun in Portugal's general election, with Prime Minister Antonio Costa's Socialist Party tipped as the favourite to win. | Voting has begun in Portugal's general election, with Prime Minister Antonio Costa's Socialist Party tipped as the favourite to win. |
But while polls suggest the party may gain the most votes, it is unclear if they will win a majority over their centre-right Social Democrat rivals. | But while polls suggest the party may gain the most votes, it is unclear if they will win a majority over their centre-right Social Democrat rivals. |
Nearly 11 million people are registered to vote in the race for control of Portugal's 230-seat parliament. | Nearly 11 million people are registered to vote in the race for control of Portugal's 230-seat parliament. |
Results will be released after polls close at 19:00 (18:00 GMT). | Results will be released after polls close at 19:00 (18:00 GMT). |
The Social Democrats (PSD) won the most votes in Portugal's 2015 election, but the Socialist Party came to power after reaching formal agreements with smaller left-wing parties. | |
Since then the country's economy has grown above the EU average. | |
Portugal's budget deficit has also shrunk despite the reversal of austerity measures that the previous PSD government rolled out in return for a €78bn ($82bn; $67bn) bailout from the EU and International Monetary Fund. | |
Opposition leaders, however, have accused the Socialist government of going too far in squeezing investment to meet eurozone budget rules. | |
The Socialists' popularity has also been hit by a string of scandals, including accusations of nepotism and a suspected cover-up of weapons theft at a military base. |
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