Portugal PM invites Socialists to help plan budget beyond election

Portugal's Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho arrives at the vote on the 2014 state budget debate at the parliament in Lisbon November 26, 2013. REUTERS/Hugo Correia

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho has invited the main opposition Socialists to discuss efforts to shrink the budget gap, aiming to convince investors that next year's election won't derail the policy.

After Lisbon's international bailout ends this year, its finances will still be bound by deficit reduction targets set by the 2012 European Union fiscal stability treaty.