Portugal holds presidential runoff election after 40-year gap

Portugal’s Presidential Election Enters Second Round Amid Ongoing Storms

Polls have opened in Portugal for the second round of its presidential election, which is being closely watched due to the country’s resurgent far right. Voting began at 9am local time on Sunday for the election, with approximately 11 million voters eligible to cast their ballots. The election will determine who will take on the ceremonial role of president.

The Socialist Party leader, Antonio Jose Seguro, and Andre Ventura, leader of the nationalist party Chega, are the two candidates in contention. Exit polls are expected by around 9pm local time, with official results likely to be announced by midnight. This election marks the first time Portugal has gone to a run-off in forty years.

In the first round of votes held in January, Seguro secured 31.1 percent of the vote, while Ventura won 23.5 percent. Despite Ventura’s strong showing, the far right’s score will be closely monitored. The second-round election is taking place amidst heavy storms and flooding that have affected several constituencies, with at least seven people killed and damage estimated at €4 billion.

The Prime Minister has rejected a call to postpone the entire vote, stating that the threats posed by the weather can be overcome. The last presidential election took place five years ago despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: Al Jazeera