Left-wing opposition topples Portugal Government Tuesday Nov 10,2015

 

A left-wing opposition alliance in Portugal toppled the country's minority conservative government in a parliamentary vote on Tuesday Nov 10,2015, less than two weeks after it was sworn in.

The newly-formed bloc comprising the Socialist Party, Communists and their allies voted 123 to 107 for a motion rejecting the government's programme, in a move likely to spook investors and markets as the country still recovers from an economic crisis. The text was passed by 123 votes in favour and 107 against.

The move brings an automatic end to the government of Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, whose centre-right coalition won the most votes in October 2015 elections but lost the absolute majority it had enjoyed since 2011.

His second government is the shortest-lived since Portugal returned to democracy in 1974

Together, the Socialists, the Communists and the Left Bloc - which is close to Greece's ruling Syriza party - hold a majority in parliament, 122 seats out of 230.Their alliance is the first of its kind since the birth of a democratic Portugal in 1974, and had seemed unimaginable just weeks ago due to differences between the various leftist groups.
It is the first time that the three parties have put aside their differences and agreed to form a government. The parties want to reverse some cutbacks and reforms demanded by creditors following Portugal's €78-billion (US$87-billion) bailout.

Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho rubs his eyes during the debate of the government's four-year policy program at the Parliament in Lisbon, Tuesday, Nov. 10 2015. Together the left-of-center parties have 122 seats in the 230-seat Parliament, outnumbering the government, and have vowed to reject the program in a vote. Such a defeat would force the government, which took office on Oct. 30, to resign, possibly opening the door for the unprecedented leftist alliance to take over.

 

Portuguese Socialist Party leader Antonio Costa shakes hands with Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, center, following the voting that rejected the government's four-year policy program at the Parliament in Lisbon, Tuesday, Nov. 10 2015.  

 

  Note

The 2015 Portuguese Legislative Election was held on Oct 04,2015 to elect 230 Members of the  Assembly of the Republic

The right-wing coalition Portugal Ahead (PàF), composed of the Social Democrats(PSD) and the People's Party (CDS-PP), won the single largest vote with 38.6%, securing 46% of the seats in the Assembly.Portugal Ahead (PàF)got 102 seats in the 230 member parliament

The Socialist Party(PS)(PS) fell short of winning the election with an overall majority(got only 86 seats)The PS received a higher share of the vote than in 2011, but did not increase its share by as much of a margin as had been predicted by the opinion polls prior to September 2015

The Left Bloc (BE), despite predictions by opinion polls, achieved its best results in history,with more than 10% of the vote got 19 seats, becoming the third largest parliamentary group.