Portugal’s right to vote against govt austerity plan: party

Portugal’s main centre-right opposition party will vote against the government’s austerity plan on Wednesday, a party spokesman said, a move that could lead to the resignation of Prime Minister Jose Socrates.

Socrates has threatened to step down if he fails to garner support in parliament for his fourth austerity package in a year, aimed at avoiding the need for a multibillion euro financial bailout like the ones granted Greece and Ireland last year.