Portuguese cautiously upbeat after PM's surprise majority win

FILE PHOTO: Portugal's Prime Minister and Socialist Party (PS) Secretary General Antonio Costa waves after winning the general election in Lisbon, Portugal, January 31, 2022. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo

LISBON (Reuters) - Portuguese voters cautiously hailed the return of political stability on Monday after a long election night delivered a surprise majority to Prime Minister Antonio Costa's Socialists, but the rise of a far right party triggered concerns.

Defying all odds, Costa won a strong mandate in the snap ballot, which was called after parliament rejected his minority administration's budget bill. The Socialist Party (PS) won at least 117 seats, a majority, leaving the main opposition party, the centre-right Social Democrats (PSD) with just 71.