Portugal’s voters return ruling coalition to power

Portuguese prime minister Pedro Passos Coelho’s ruling coalition won yesterday’s general election, television station RTP’s exit poll indicated last night.

The coalition won between 38% and 43% of the vote, which may represent between 108 and 116 seats in parliament, according to the poll by the Catholic University for RTP. The opposition Socialist Party took between 30% and 35% of the vote, or between 80 and 88 seats in parliament.

Portugal’s parliament has 230 seats, meaning at least 116 are needed for a majority.