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’état! Come on, Guardian, we expect better from you.
Professor Scott Newton
School of History, Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University
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