Portugal is living through its closest election race since becoming a democracy in 1974.<br /><br /> With the country gearing up for Sunday’s (October 4) general elections, the latest opinion polls suggest the incumbent conservative coalition is on course for a narrow win.<br /><br /> However the coalition, led by Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, seems likely to lose its parliamentary majority.<br /><br /> The opposition socialist party, led by former mayor of Lisbon Antonio Costa is predicted to come in close on the heels of the conservatives.<br /><br /> The governing coalition is estimated to win between 99 and 114 seats – just short of the 116 needed for an absolute majority in the 230-member parliament.<br /><br /> Polls suggest the left could prevail if the socialists were to join forces with the Communists and Greens in the CDU and the radical Left Bloc.<br /><br /> However, for the moment, Costa’s party is refusing to commit to a potential coalition.<br /><br /> The incumbent conservatives have upheld strict austerity policies following a 2011
