Portugal: Far-Right Poised for Presidential Election Runoff

Portuguese citizens are heading to the polls for the first round of the presidential election, with the far-right aiming for a historic qualification for the second round.

Polling stations opened at 08:00 local time, with initial estimates expected at 20:00. According to polls, André Ventura, leader of the far-right Chega party, has a chance of leading in the first round.

If the far-right achieves a strong performance, it will confirm its dominance in the political landscape and open a new chapter in the battle between the traditional right and the emerging far-right, according to the Teneo analysis center.

António José Seguro, the socialist candidate, appears to have a slight lead over João Cotrim Figueiredo for the second spot.

The winner of the election will succeed Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. André Ventura received 11.9% of the votes in the previous 2021 election.

The President of Portugal does not have executive powers but can play an arbitration role in crises and dissolve parliament.