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Portugal picks center-right president for center-left government | Portugal picks center-right president for center-left government |
(about 3 hours later) | |
LISBON — Center-right candidate Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa won Portugal’s presidential election Sunday, an outcome that should help maintain political balance after a dramatic swing to the left in October’s parliamentary ballot. | LISBON — Center-right candidate Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa won Portugal’s presidential election Sunday, an outcome that should help maintain political balance after a dramatic swing to the left in October’s parliamentary ballot. |
In his victory speech, Social Democrat Rebelo de Sousa, 67, said he will work to promote consensus and repair divisions created in the aftermath of the previous election, when the left ousted a center-right administration that imposed tough austerity under an international bailout in 2011 through 2014. | In his victory speech, Social Democrat Rebelo de Sousa, 67, said he will work to promote consensus and repair divisions created in the aftermath of the previous election, when the left ousted a center-right administration that imposed tough austerity under an international bailout in 2011 through 2014. |
Portugal’s president is a largely ceremonial figure, but he plays an important role at times of political uncertainty — including what has gripped the country since the inconclusive parliamentary election. He has the power to dissolve parliament and fire the prime minister. | |
Portugal is likely to need all the consensus that is possible as a shaky government of moderate center-left Socialists dependent on far-left parties for support in parliament tries to reconcile its election pledges to end economic austerity with budget-deficit cuts promised to the European Union. | |
“This election ends a very long election process . . . that unnerved the country and divided a society already hurt by years of crisis. It is time to turn the page and detraumatize, start an economic, social and political pacification,” Rebelo de Sousa said at Lisbon University. | |
“We have to align social justice with economic growth and financial stability without compromising the financial solidity for which so many Portuguese sacrificed so much for years,” he said, referring to Portugal’s budget-consolidation drive of the past few years, which helped the country out of an acute debt crisis. | “We have to align social justice with economic growth and financial stability without compromising the financial solidity for which so many Portuguese sacrificed so much for years,” he said, referring to Portugal’s budget-consolidation drive of the past few years, which helped the country out of an acute debt crisis. |
With nearly all votes counted, preliminary results showed Rebelo de Sousa, a former journalist and onetime leader of the center-right Social Democrats, winning 52 percent of the vote, enough to avoid a runoff. | With nearly all votes counted, preliminary results showed Rebelo de Sousa, a former journalist and onetime leader of the center-right Social Democrats, winning 52 percent of the vote, enough to avoid a runoff. |
His closest rival, Socialist António Sampaio da Nóvoa, conceded defeat after picking up about 23 percent of the vote. | His closest rival, Socialist António Sampaio da Nóvoa, conceded defeat after picking up about 23 percent of the vote. |
“I think Marcelo is what Portugal needs now, both as mediator and a bit of a counterweight to the left,” said Maria João de Conceição, a 43-year-old teacher. | “I think Marcelo is what Portugal needs now, both as mediator and a bit of a counterweight to the left,” said Maria João de Conceição, a 43-year-old teacher. |
Many political analysts do not expect the Socialist-led government to serve a full four-year term, and the new president could play a key role, either as mediator between the parties or using his power to dissolve parliament and call new elections. | Many political analysts do not expect the Socialist-led government to serve a full four-year term, and the new president could play a key role, either as mediator between the parties or using his power to dissolve parliament and call new elections. |
Rebelo de Sousa will succeed President Aníbal Cavaco Silva, a fellow conservative who said he swore in the Socialist government only as he was barred by the constitution from calling new parliamentary elections in his last six months in office. | Rebelo de Sousa will succeed President Aníbal Cavaco Silva, a fellow conservative who said he swore in the Socialist government only as he was barred by the constitution from calling new parliamentary elections in his last six months in office. |
That option will again become possible from April 4, six months after the parliamentary elections. | That option will again become possible from April 4, six months after the parliamentary elections. |
The leftist parties have said that Rebelo de Sousa may seek a return to unpopular right-wing economic policies, but he struck a conciliatory tone during his election campaign, saying Portugal needs “more social justice along with minimum financial equilibrium” — a stance similar to that of the Socialists. | The leftist parties have said that Rebelo de Sousa may seek a return to unpopular right-wing economic policies, but he struck a conciliatory tone during his election campaign, saying Portugal needs “more social justice along with minimum financial equilibrium” — a stance similar to that of the Socialists. |
— Reuters | — Reuters |
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