Portuguese analysts were Friday skeptical about the chances of Socialist Prime Minister-elect Jose Socrates to serve a full term after he announced that he would head a minority government, according to dpa. Socrates made the announcement late Thursday after none of the other parties agreed to join him in a coalition government. Socrates accused the parties of refusing to engage in a "dialogue without preconditions" to give stability to the government, but said he expected to serve a full term. The parties had expressed willingness to consider backing the government on a case-to-case basis, Socrates said. The daily Publico said the situation did not meet any of the conditions for a stable government. Minority governments have usually had short lifespans in Portugal. An unstable government would be especially harmful at a time when the country is struggling to rise out of an economic slump, analysts said. Socrates heads the social-democratic Socialist Party (PS), which won the September 27 parliamentary elections, but lost its 2005 absolute majority. He is due by the end of next week to present a new cabinet to Parliament and to President Anibal Cavaco Silva. The Socialists will have 97 of 230 seats in Parliament.
