Awwal 01, 1432, Feb 04, 2011, SPA -- Portugal's main opposition party signalled it is in no hurry to force an early election, unless the minority government fails to deliver on spending cuts and reforms to overcome the nation's debt crisis, according to Reuters. Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Pedro Passos Coelho was was quoted on Friday as saying his centre-right party "doesn't need to be in the government to contribute to the construction of positive solutions for the country". The PSD holds a lead in opinion polls over the governing Socialists, who say they beat last year's budget deficit target of 7.3 percent of gross domestic product and aim to reach an ambitious 4.6 percent this year. "The important thing is if the Socialists do not meet the budget target, do not show dedication and promptness in doing reforms ... then the country will get to an impasse," Passos Coelho told Diario Economico business daily in an interview. "Should there be an early election because of an impasse ... we will study that situation," he said. Political analysts say the PSD may try to trigger an election after President Anibal Cavaco Silva starts a new term in March, but not before its opinion poll lead widens enough to show it can win an absolute majority in parliament. Passos Coelho said the PSD was indeed aiming for an absolute majority, while rejecting an election alliance proposed by the right-wing CDS-PP party. The Socialist government's popularity has declined after it adopted tax increases and public sector wage cuts to lower the deficit and persuade investors that Portugal does not need to follow Greece and Ireland by taking a financial bailout. The PSD supported the government's austerity drive in parliament last year and has called for more spending cuts. The Socialists won the 2009 general election, but lost the absolute majority they had in their first term and now need to negotiate support for their bills. Portugal's next general election is not due until 2013.
