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Portuguese PM expresses no desire for absolute majority in parliament

Xinhua, April 4, 2017 Adjust font size:

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Tuesday he has no desire to gain an absolute majority in parliament and is happy to continue to be backed by left-wing parties.

"There will be no (anticipated) elections now and there shouldn't be. We need to work for the legislature to be completed with calmness. If there is something the Portuguese are grateful for it is the country living a normal period," he told Portuguese broadcaster Renascenca.

He added that he would like to continue the "gerinconca" with or without absolute majority. "Geringonca" is roughly described as "contraption" and has been used to describe the Portuguese government, which took power in November in 2015 and is backed by the Left bloc and Communist Party in parliament.

"It has worked well because we have maintained a margin of freedom to maintain the independence of each (party), the policies of each one and the solidity to do what we decide to do jointly," he added.

Portugal signed a 78-billion-euro (83.1 billion U.S. dollars) bailout program in 2011 when it was on the verge of bankruptcy, which led the previous administration to apply harsh austerity.

The Socialist Party, led by Costa, has raised salaries as part of its anti-austerity drive, while managing to lower the deficit to 2.1 percent of GDP in 2016, the lowest level seen since its return to democracy in 1974.

The next Portuguese elections will take place in 2019. Endit