Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho was removed from power on Tuesday less than six weeks after winning the country's general election when an opposition coalition voted down his governing program, UPI reported. Coelho's Social Democrats have struggled to form an administration since losing its parliamentary majority after the Oct. 4 election. The coalition, made up of Portugal's Socialists, the Left Bloc, Communists and Greens parties, formed a majority to push through a parliamentary motion rejecting Coelho's proposed plans in a 123-107 vote. Antonio Costa, leader of the Socialists, which came in second in the general election, said he can form a minority government. About 12 percent of Portugal's workforce is unemployed and 20 percent of people live below the poverty line. Portugal has the second highest debt to gross domestic product in the European Union at 125 percent. The Socialists aim to increase family incomes and reverse cuts to state salaries faster than Coelho planned. Portugal continues strict austerity measures after more than a year since exiting a eurozone bailout agreement. Under Portugal's constitution, Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva will now decide whether Costa will become prime minister or to seek an alternative candidate. The president can also invite Coelho to continue serving as prime minister until new elections are held after April 2016.
