Portugal readies for general election as 21 parties field candidates

PanARMENIAN.Net - Portugal's National Election Commission says 21 parties, some in coalitions, will field candidates in the Oct 4 general election, the Associated Press reports.

The commission said late Wednesday, August 26, that only 14 parties will run in all 22 electoral districts. The Social Democratic Party and the Popular Party — which formed Portugal's center-right coalition government for the past four years — are standing together. Their main rival is the center-left Socialist Party. Between them, the three main parties are expected to collect more than 70 percent of the vote, similar to previous elections.

All the main parties say they will abide by the fiscal discipline required by being in the 19-nation eurozone, although the Socialists have promised to ease some austerity measures, the AP says.

Recent polls indicate the governing coalition and the Socialists are roughly neck-and-neck, raising the prospect of a minority government.