Portugal votes in tight presidential race with far right poised to reach runoff

"Portuguese voters queued at polling stations on Sunday to elect a new president, with opinion surveys showing three candidates, including the leader of the far-right Chega party, close to a spot in a probable top-two runoff. In the five decades since Portugal threw off its fascist dictatorship, a presidential election has only once before in 1986 required a runoff, highlighting how fragmented the political landscape has become with the rise of the far right and voters' disenchantment with mainstream parties."

"Approximately 11 million voters are eligible to cast ballots. Polling stations will close at 7pm, with exit polls expected at 8pm and results released during the night. The last pre-election opinion survey released on Friday by Pitagorica pollsters put the Socialist party candidate, Antonio Jose Seguro, on 25.1%, followed by Chega's leader, Andre Ventura, on 23%, and Joao Cotrim de Figueiredo, a member of the European parliament from the rightwing, pro-business Liberal Initiative party, on 22.3%."

Portuguese voters lined up to elect a new president with opinion polls showing three candidates competing for a likely top-two runoff. A presidential runoff has occurred only once since the end of the fascist dictatorship in 1986, signaling increased political fragmentation and voter disaffection with mainstream parties. The presidency remains largely ceremonial but can dissolve parliament, call snap elections and veto legislation in certain circumstances. Approximately 11 million voters are eligible to vote; polling stations close at 7pm, exit polls are expected at 8pm and results will be released during the night. Recent polls place Seguro at 25.1%, Ventura at 23% and Cotrim de Figueiredo at 22.3%.

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