Portugal Set to Hold Presidential Runoff
Voters cast ballots to select their next head of state as far-right contender Andre Ventura of the Chega party gains unprecedented traction. Outgoing conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who commanded nearly 60% support in 2021, is wrapping up his constitutionally limited second five-year term. A crowded field of eleven hopefuls vied to replace him, including Ventura, who previously claimed nearly 12% in the prior presidential contest.
ICS-ISCTE-Pitagorica exit polling positioned opposition Socialist Party contender Antonio Jose Seguro at the front with between 30.8% and 35.2% of ballots, while Ventura trailed with 19.9% to 24.1%.
The data indicates Seguro and Ventura will proceed to a decisive Feb. 8 runoff, since neither candidate appears positioned to claim an outright majority.
Joao Cotrim de Figueiredo of the Liberal Initiative party registered closely behind with between 16.3% and 20.1%, the exit poll demonstrated.
Independent contender Henrique Gouveia e Melo was forecast to secure between 9.2% and 12.4%, while Luis Marques Mendes of the governing center-right Social Democratic Party was anticipated to capture between 9.1% and 12.3%.
The nation has witnessed a presidential runoff just once previously—in 1986, when former Socialist Prime Minister Mario Soares reversed a first-round loss to defeat Freitas do Amaral.
Campaign season unfolded amid intense discussions surrounding social inequality, low wages, housing shortages, restrictions on migrant rights, and labor policies implemented by the conservative administration of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.
Chega, established seven years ago under Ventura's leadership, emerged as the primary opposition force for the first time following snap parliamentary elections conducted last May.
Approximately 11 million registered voters participated in the election, with roughly 1.6 million residing abroad.
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