Portugal's opposition party demands end to austerity

Head of Portugal's main opposition party said Monday that it was possible to put an end to austerity in the country.

Socialist Party Secretary-General Antonio Costa will reveal his proposals to govern the country before the general elections, which are expected in September or October.

The Socialists have criticized the sharp spending cuts and tax hikes imposed by the center-right government since it signed a 78 billion euro (about 83.7 billion U.S. dollars) bailout in 2011, and are leading opinion polls before the elections.

However the government says the measures suggested by the Socialists could aggravate the country's deficit by 1.7 billion euros ( 1.82 billion dollars). Endi