The Socialist Party has won the European elections in Portugal, marked by a record low in Sunday’s turnout at the polls with 37% of those eligible bothering to vote.
With the Vila Real result still to come in, the Partido Socialista (PS) party led by António José Seguro, has secured a share of around 31.46% of the vote, ahead of 27.7% received by the ruling coaltion Alliance, and will return 8 or 9 Socialist MEPs to the European Parliament.
Seguro refers to this result as a "great victory" for the Partido Socialista which means "the current government has come to an end."
In fourth place was a blinding performance from Partido da Terra, the Earth Party, contrasting with a sharp drop for the Left Bloc.
With only 20 results yet to come in Portugal and from 17 consulates overseas, the ruling PSD is firmly in second place with 27.7% of the votes.
The Earth Party led by António Marinho Pinto has emerged as the main surprise of the European elections with 7.15% of the country's vote.
Another party that can claim victory is the communist CDU, the coalition between PCP and the Greens which has two MEPs elected and should reach a third, with 12% of the vote.
The Left Bloc will be able to send only one MEP to Brussels as it received less than 5% of the votes cast.
The Socialist Party’s Francisco Assis said a "new cycle" was starting in Portugal and that the PSD/CDS coalition has had a "historic defeat" and that the Socialist Party once again has become the largest party in the country.
"It starts a new cycle in the Portuguese political life. It is evident that the Portuguese want a change," said Assis.
Socialist satisfaction was highlighted later by the party leader, António José Seguro, who commented, "the PS had a big win today."
Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho congratulated the Socialist Party on its victory, in elections, he said, "there's only one winner."
