Breaking News: Portugal’s Presidential Election Underway Amid Storms
Polls have opened in Portugal for the second round of the presidential election. Voting began at 9 AM local time (09:00 GMT) on Sunday. Approximately 11 million voters, both in Portugal and abroad, are eligible to participate.
Voters will choose between Antonio Jose Seguro of the Socialist Party and Andre Ventura, leader of the far-right party Chega. In the first round, Seguro received 31.1% of the votes, while Ventura secured 23.5%.
Exit polls are expected around 9 PM local time (21:00 GMT), with official results likely by midnight (00:00 GMT). This election is crucial, as it will determine who assumes the largely ceremonial role of president.
The election is taking place as heavy storms and flooding impact the country. While weather conditions improved overnight, voting has been postponed in 14 constituencies, affecting nearly 32,000 people. The storms have resulted in at least seven fatalities and caused an estimated 4 billion euros ($4.7 billion) in damage.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro acknowledged the crisis but emphasized that voting should proceed as planned.
