A BATTERED incumbent right-wing coalition emerged the victor of yesterday’s Portuguese general election, but facing a larger anti-austerity bloc in parliament.

Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho’s Portugal Ahead, comprising the centre-right Social Democratic Party (PDS) and the Christian democrat CDS-PP, was declared the winner but was unable to reach a majority with only 38.5 per cent of the vote.

The centre-left opposition Socialist Party (PS) was the night’s greatest loser, despite adding an extra 12 seats to its parliamentary group.