Worrying times for democracy in Portugal | Letters

Your report (Portugal faces political crisis as leftists vow to topple new government, 26 October) does not do justice to what is happening in that country. There has just been a general election. A leftwing coalition campaigning on anti-austerity policies has won 50.7% of votes cast. It also possesses a majority of seats in the assembleia. The president, however, has not simply expressed "grave reservations" about whether this grouping should take power; he has blocked it on the grounds that this is "the worst moment for a radical change" and is trying to install a pro-troika government led by the very centre-right forces that the electorate has rejected. This is a coup d'i(C)tat! Come on, Guardian, we expect better from you.
Professor Scott Newton
School of History, Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University

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