Portuguese party leaders meet without agreement on gov't formation

The meeting between leaders of the Portuguese Social Democratic Party (PSD) Pedro Passos Coelho and the main opposition Socialist Party (PS) Antonio Costa ended Friday with no agreement on forming a new government.

The three-hour meeting between Passos Coelho and Costa ended without either side coming to an agreement. Both parties agreed in principle to meet next Tuesday.

Leader of the minor partner of the center-right coalition the People's Party (CDS-PP) Paulo Portas also attended the meeting.

Passos Coelho and Portas hoped that the meeting would provide a window of opportunity for Costa to find a common ground on forming a new government after the Oct. 4 general election.

Costa said after the meeting that the ruling coalition failed to present any concrete ideas, calling it a "very inconclusive meeting".

Passos Coelho said "We are fully receptive to discuss and consider any proposal that the Socialist Party deems important to present. We believe that is as it should be."

Passos Coelho reinforced his position of leaving the floor open, saying "It is a push game, it was the coalition who won the elections and not the Socialists, and it is to these that it is making proposals."

The ruling coalition has won 104 in the 230-seat parliament in the parliamentary election on Sunday but failed to secure an outright majority with 116 seats to form a stable government.

The party leaders are engaged in talks to seek compromise on forming a new government after the election.

President Anibal Cavaco Silva on Tuesday called on political parties to put aside their differences and seek compromise in order to form a stable government after the general election. Endit