Left-wing candidate wins election and will be the next president of Portugal, says exit polls
António José Seguro of the Socialist Party is projected to win the presidential election in Portugal with a significant majority according to early exit polls.
António José Seguro, the candidate from the Socialist Party, is projected to win the Portuguese presidential election with a substantial lead over his right-wing rival, André Ventura from the Chega party. Early exit polls indicate that Seguro has secured between 68% to 73% of valid votes, highlighting a decisive victory that aligns with prior voting intention surveys. Despite the challenges posed by a national emergency due to extreme rain, the election process is continuing smoothly in the majority of the country.
The projected voter turnout reflects an abstention rate similar to the first round of elections, estimated between 42% to 48%. The turnout indicates a stable engagement of the electorate despite the ongoing weather issues, showing that the conditions have not significantly deterred voting participation across most of Portugal. The only exceptions are a few municipalities currently under public calamity, which account for a tiny fraction of the overall votes, meaning that the impact on the election results should be minimal.
This victory for the Socialist candidate, if confirmed, suggests a continued shift towards leftist governance in Portugal, particularly in contrast to the rise of right-wing parties in recent years. The overwhelming support for Seguro could also reflect public sentiment on issues like social equality and economic policies promoted by the Socialist Party, which may influence future legislative agendas and policy directions in the country, reinforcing the left's position in Portuguese politics.