Leader of the Portuguese Socialist Party (PS) Antonio Costa (1st R) and leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Pedro Passos Coelho (1st L) hold talks on forming a new government at the PS headquarters in Lisbon, Portugal, Oct. 13, 2015. Talks between leaders of the Portuguese Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Socialist Party (PS) on forming a new government after the Oct. 4 general election ended here Tuesday without any tangible agreement. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
LISBON, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Talks between leaders of the Portuguese Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Socialist Party (PS) on forming a new government after the Oct. 4 general election ended here Tuesday without any tangible agreement.
PS leader Antonio Costa told reporters after the talks, which lasted two and a half hours, that their outcome was "completely inconclusive."
Costa assured the Portuguese that stability will be restored over the next four years.
"We will not ignore the priority of this country," he said. "We have a duty to our country and we will make a decision and bring stability to the country."
PSD leader Pedro Passos Coelho, accompanied by caretaking coalition partner People's Party leader Paulo Portas, said that he hoped to hear a counter proposal from the PS.
Costa affirmed that he will respond to the coalition's proposal in writing.
Both parties left the meeting with no new meeting scheduled.
The meeting on Tuesday night between the PS and the coalition was the second of its kind after the Oct. 4 general election which saw the ruling center-right coalition lose its outright majority in the 230-seat parliament.
The coalition has been involved in talks with the PS to win their support to form a new government, while the PS has also been involved in talks with other blocs.
