Summary

TAPE_NUMBER: EF99/1133 IN_TIME: 19:04:20 // 19:44:47 - 20:19:59 - 21:31:56 LENGTH: 02:56 SOURCES: RTP RESTRICTIONS: No Access Portugal/Internet FEED: VARIOUS (THE ABOVE TIME-CODE IS TIME-OF-DAY) SCRIPT: Portuguese/Nat Portugal's governing Socialist Party was returned to power in Portugal's general election on Sunday. According to exit polls the Socialists gathered at least 44 percent of the vote compared with up to 33 percent for the main opposition Social Democratic Party. Voting in outlying islands was hampered by bad weather, and in several islands voting was boycotted by groups wishing to break away from Lisbon's control. The final results are still not in, but it's already clear that the ruling Socialists will form the next government. Their spokesman was keen to thank all those who'd contributed to the victory. SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese) "My last word is to thank both the socialists and independents that participated in our election campaign and who helped the socialists win these consecutive elections since 1993." SUPER CAPTION: Antonio Jose Seguro, spokesman for Socialist Party The Socialists have benefited from a robust economy to poll 11 percent more than its nearest rival. When transferred into the parliament it will give them an overall majority. The two weeks of official campaigning, which was wrapped up on Friday, were marked by a sedate political debate that failed to stir an electorate distracted by other events. Many said the campaigning had been eclipsed by the crisis in the former Portuguese colony of East Timor and the death of Portugal's famed 'fado' singer Amalia Rodrigues. Earlier, Prime Minister Antonio Guterres tried to put a brave face on the low turnout when he turned out to vote in Lisbon. SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese) "The election will see the maximum participation possible of the people. This is very important." SUPER CAPTION: Antonio Guterres, Prime Minister of Portugal Over the past four years, the Socialist party has ruled as a minority government, four seats short of an overall majority. They feared a low turnout might jeopardise their chances of gaining enough votes for an outright majority in the 230-seat Republican Assembly, Portugal's parliament. The Socialists have won the country's last presidential, municipal and European elections. This latest victory is sure to be a devastating blow to the opposition parties who'd hoped for at least a coalition government. The abstention rate among the country's 8.8 (m) million eligible voters was estimated at 32 percent. Voting in Portugal's Madeira islands was hampered by heavy rains and landslides overnight. Mud and rock blocked roads preventing voters from reaching some of the main polling stations. A small village of 50 people was completely cut off by the blocked roads. There has also been some boycotting of the voting process in some of Portugal's islands. In Culatra off the coast of the Algarve, people blocked the entrance to the town hall to prevent voting. Dozens of people gathered to protest, chanting the slogans 'We won't vote, we won't Vote." Culatra is fighting to break away from control from Lisbon and has become a municipality. SHOTLIST: Lisbon / Madeira Islands / Culatra Island- Portugal- 10 October 1999 XFA Lisbon, October 10, 1999 1. Wide shot of news conference 2. Set up shot of Seguro 3. SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese) Antonio Jose Seguro, spokesman for Socialist Party 4. Studio shot of election programme 5. Graphic showing share of vote for each party 6. Graphic showing share of vote in parliament for each party Lisbon - October 10, 1999 7. Prime Minister Antonio Guterres voting 8. SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese) Antonio Guterres, Prime Minister of Portugal 9. Paulo Portas, Leader of the Popular Party (P-P) candidate, Centre-Right Wing 10. Carlos Carvalhas, Communist Party (C-D-U) candidate 11. Durao Barroso, Social Democratic Party (P-S-D) candidate 12. Close up registration forms 13. President voting Madeira Islands - October 10, 1999 14. Various of blocked road after mud landslide 15. Shot of women waving flags chanting 'We will not vote' 16. Wide of demo Culatra - October 10, 1999 17. Various of people standing outside town hall boycotting voting 18. Pan of banners 19. Women chanting 20. Voting slips on floor- pan up to protestors chanting?