With bad weather and José Seguro as the favorite: What we know about the second round of the presidential elections in Portugal
The second round of Portugal's presidential elections features former Socialist Minister António José Seguro against far-right leader André Ventura, with an early voter turnout of 22.35%.
The second round of the presidential elections in Portugal is taking place on February 8, where former Socialist Minister António José Seguro is competing against far-right leader André Ventura to succeed Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Initial reports indicate a voter turnout of 22.35% by noon, which is slightly higher than the turnout during the first round at the same time. This election is critical for shaping Portugal's political landscape, especially given the contrasting ideologies of the candidates.
Polling stations opened at 08:00 local time and are expected to close at 19:00, with the Azores closing an hour later due to a different time zone. The Ministry of Internal Administration plans to update results at 17:00, and provisional results will start being released from 08:00 the following day. Given recent surveys, António José Seguro appears to have the edge, positioning him as a strong favorite ahead of the final count.
With more than eleven million Portuguese citizens eligible to vote, the outcomes of this election will not only determine the presidency but may also influence future policy directions in the country. The context of this election is particularly noteworthy as it reflects a broader battle between leftist and right-wing ideologies in Portugal, set against a backdrop of challenging weather conditions for voters, which may impact overall participation rates in this crucial electoral event.