Ruling Party Returns but Lacks Majority

Portuguese voters returned the Socialists to power in national elections, but the party fell just short of the absolute majority it needed in parliament to carry out necessary economic and social reforms. The Socialists won 113 seats, three short of an absolute majority and only one more than they held in the previous 230-seat parliament. The main losers were the conservative Social Democrats, who dropped to 83 seats from 88. As leader of the party that won the most votes, Prime Minister Antonio Guterres will automatically be asked to form a new government. He said he was ready to take on the challenge.