Portuguese voters began going to polls Sunday in general elections focused on the economy, as one of Western Europe's poorest countries struggles to recover from its economic crisis, reported the dpa. Polls gave a lead to Socialist Prime Minister Jose Socrates, 52, whose conservative challenger Manuela Ferreira Leite, 68, aspires to become Portugal's first elected female premier. Ferreira Leite heads the centre-right Social Democratic Party (PSD). Socrates was not, however, expected to renew the absolute majority he won in 2005. About 9.7 million Portuguese were eligible to vote for candidates from 15 political parties. Socrates, who presents himself as a liberal reformer taking Portugal into full modernity, has stressed the need for stability by allowing the Socialists to remain in power.
