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Portuguese right given a spanking

Social Democratic Party loses out in local elections

Portuguese voters gave the conservative Social Democrat Party a spanking in local elections on Sunday over its draconian cuts programme.

Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho admitted a "national defeat" in the municipal polls as voters vented their anger at austerity.

"We had the goal of retaining the majority of town halls but that just didn't happen," Mr Passos Coelho said, congratulating the opposition Socialist Party for their "significant victory."

But the right-wing PM flatly refused to change course.

"I will continue along the path we are on, which is essential in order to overcome the economic crisis and restore confidence and growth for Portugal," he insisted, clinging to his programme of tax rises, pay and pension cuts and reductions in public services.

He admitted the SDP had suffered its "worst ever" local election results but said that was the "price to pay" for austerity policies.

The conservative share of the vote slid more than 12 per cent to 26.5 per cent, taking with it 39 mayoralties, leaving them with 100 municipalities - though that includes some areas where the SDP ran on a joint ticket.

The socialists also saw a slight downturn in their vote but were up four mayors to 137.

The Democratic Unitarian Coalition - an alliance of the Communist and Green parties - did see its vote go up to 11.1 per cent, giving them five new mayors to make a tally of 30 across the country.

Portugal agreed to enact austerity measures in return for a €78 billion (£65bn) bailout two years ago.

But a third straight year of recession and a jobless rate of 17.7 per cent have turned working people against the bailout.

The ruling party lost control of the major cities of Porto, Sintra and Vila Nova de Gaia.

And the Socialists retained power in Lisbon with an increased share of the vote.

Prior to the vote, Mr Passos Coelho had insisted that results would have no effect on national policy.

But he conceded on Sunday that "even if this is not a national election, the results of the local vote must be considered at a national level."

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