LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal's Socialist Party is mulling its options for alliances with other parties after it fell short of a parliamentary majority in a general election.

The center-left Socialists are preparing to stay in power for another four years after collecting 36.6% of the votes in Sunday's ballot. The main opposition Social Democratic Party came second with almost 28%.

The Socialists, however, are 10 seats shy of a majority in the 230-seat parliament. To ensure its legislation is approved, the government will need support from other parties.

The obvious candidates for an alliance are the radical Left Bloc, which snared 19 seats, and the Communist Party, which got 12.

Those two parties allied with the Socialists during the four-year term that has just ended.