Pedro Passos Coelho

Leftwing parties looked set to oust Portugal's minority centre-right government today in a parliamentary vote, part of a drive to set up their own Socialist-led administration they hope will put an end to years of harsh austerity.

Portugal's Communist Party today said it would be willing to support a Socialist-led government, confirming a leftist bid to block the emergence of a minority right-wing government.

Portugal's Socialist opposition leader said Wednesday it would take a "Martian invasion" to convince him to join a coalition government, after the ruling centre-right bloc fell short of outright election victory.

Portugal's president said on Tuesday he had asked Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho to begin consultations on forming a government that can ensure political stability in the euro zone nation.

Portugal's ruling centre-right coalition won a general election Sunday seen as a referendum on its austerity policies, but near-complete results indicated it has lost its absolute majority in parliament.

Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho said he was "ready" to form a government after his ruling centre-right coalition won Sunday's general election, in a rare case of a bailed-out country re-electing its austerity government.

Portugal's ruling centre-right coalition was the clear winner in a general election Sunday seen as a referendum on its austerity policies, although it could lose its absolute majority in parliament, near-complete results showed.

Portugal's ruling centre-right coalition is the clear leader of Sunday's general election, early exit polls said, although it may not hold onto its majority in parliament.

Portuguese voters cast ballots Sunday to give their verdict on four years of austerity by either re-electing the centre-right coalition that steered the country through a punishing bailout or turning to the Socialists who promise to ease painful reforms.

Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho announced here Sunday that the debt-laden country sees an end to the bailout programme with the international lenders, without applying for a precautionary credit line and restoring complete sovereignty over financing in the world market.

It should have been a moment for dual celebrations in Portugal as the 40th anniversary of democracy on Friday coincided with the end of the country's international bailout and its crippling conditions.

Portugal's prime minister defied calls to resign on Tuesday after his coalition government was rocked by a second Cabinet resignation in as many days over tough budget cuts that have sharply reduced living standards in one of the poorest countries that uses the euro.

Leftwing parties looked set to oust Portugal's minority centre-right government today in a parliamentary vote, part of a drive to set up their own Socialist-led administration they hope will put an end to years of harsh austerity.

Portugal's Communist Party today said it would be willing to support a Socialist-led government, confirming a leftist bid to block the emergence of a minority right-wing government.

Portugal's Socialist opposition leader said Wednesday it would take a "Martian invasion" to convince him to join a coalition government, after the ruling centre-right bloc fell short of outright election victory.

Portugal's president said on Tuesday he had asked Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho to begin consultations on forming a government that can ensure political stability in the euro zone nation.

Portugal's ruling centre-right coalition won a general election Sunday seen as a referendum on its austerity policies, but near-complete results indicated it has lost its absolute majority in parliament.

Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho said he was "ready" to form a government after his ruling centre-right coalition won Sunday's general election, in a rare case of a bailed-out country re-electing its austerity government.

Portugal's ruling centre-right coalition was the clear winner in a general election Sunday seen as a referendum on its austerity policies, although it could lose its absolute majority in parliament, near-complete results showed.

Portugal's ruling centre-right coalition is the clear leader of Sunday's general election, early exit polls said, although it may not hold onto its majority in parliament.

Portuguese voters cast ballots Sunday to give their verdict on four years of austerity by either re-electing the centre-right coalition that steered the country through a punishing bailout or turning to the Socialists who promise to ease painful reforms.

Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho announced here Sunday that the debt-laden country sees an end to the bailout programme with the international lenders, without applying for a precautionary credit line and restoring complete sovereignty over financing in the world market.

It should have been a moment for dual celebrations in Portugal as the 40th anniversary of democracy on Friday coincided with the end of the country's international bailout and its crippling conditions.

Portugal's prime minister defied calls to resign on Tuesday after his coalition government was rocked by a second Cabinet resignation in as many days over tough budget cuts that have sharply reduced living standards in one of the poorest countries that uses the euro.