PORTUGAL/ Defeated prime minister seeks the presidency

Outgoing Prime Minister Mario Soares said last week he would still run for the presidency in January, despite his Socialist Party's defeat in the Oct. 6 general election. Mr. Soares said he would stay on as caretaker prime minister until President Ant'onio Ramalho Eanes named a new head of government. As president, Soares would deal more with long-range policy matters than with direct administration.

Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Anibal Cavaco Silva was due at time of writing to meet Mr. Eanes to discuss the formation of Portugal's 16th government since the 1974 armed forces revolution that toppled a right-wing dictatorship.

Almost-complete election returns gave the Social Democrats 85 seats, 10 more than in the last election in 1983. The Socialists' 1983 tally of 101 was cut to just 55 seats, while the Democratic Renewal Party, which supports Eanes, got a pivotal role in the next parliament with 45 seats.