led invasion of Iraq last year, and Socrates has come out against the privatisation of the state water company. The Socialists criticised the austerity programme that Barroso had imposed to narrow a budget deficit that breached euro currency zone limits in 2001. But the party's policy architect, former European justice commissioner Antonio Vitorino, has vowed the Socialists will keep a tight grip on spending. No decision has been made on whether on whether Santana Lopes, who has never lost an election, will run a joint campaign with his coalition partner, the rightist Popular Party. Polls had been scheduled for 2006. The elections raise questions about the future of economic reforms, including a shakeup of the civil service, that the government was carrying out.
