Elections in Germany and Portugal

Chancellor Angela Merkel wins a second term.

Angela Merkel scored a resounding victory in german's general election. Acting Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives (CDU/CSU) have won enough votes in Germany's election to form a center-right government with their preferred partners, the Free Democrats (FDP). The SPD are the big losers, they garnered just 23 per cent at the ballot box, down more than eleven points, its worst result since the Second World War.

The participation rate was: 70,08 %.

Socialist party wins legislativ elections in Portugal.

Socialist party was re-elected to rule Portugal for another term. Portugal's prime minister Jose Socrates has been re-elected but without an overall parliamentary majority.The final results of the general election in Portugal show that Socrates and his Socialist party have just 36 per cent of the vote, losing their current absolute parliamentary majority.The party secured 96 seats out of the 230 seats available in the Portuguese assembly, down 25 seats on their 2005 election win. The main opposition party, the Social Democratic party(PSD) gained 78 seats (31,0%), CDS-PP-21 seats (11,105), Bloco de esquerda (BE)-16 seats (10, 4%) and CDU(PCP-PEV)-15 seats(8,3%) .

The participation rate was: 60,11 %.