Portuguese voters head to the polls on Sunday for the final round of a presidential election marked by a concerted effort to keep far-right candidate André Ventura from power, amid deadly storms that have battered the country.
Socialist candidate António José Seguro, who won the first round on 18 January with 31.1% of the vote, is widely expected to defeat Ventura, leader of the Chega party, who took 23.5%. Conservative figures, including former president Aníbal Cavaco Silva, have publicly backed Seguro to block a far-right victory.
Opinion polls suggest Seguro leads with 67% to Ventura's 33%. If Ventura exceeds 32%, analysts say it would mark a political watershed, as Chega would surpass the governing Social Democratic Party's (PSD) share in the last general election. Political scientist António Costa Pinto noted Ventura's ability to mobilise right-wing voters is a key concern.
However, centre-right Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has refused to endorse any candidate, drawing criticism as cowardly from some quarters. Journalist Miguel Carvalho warned that Montenegro's neutrality, coupled with legislative concessions to Chega, could allow Ventura to consolidate the right.
Liberal Initiative candidate João Cotrim de Figueiredo, who came third in the first round, has not explicitly backed Seguro but said he will not vote for Ventura. The runoff comes as Portugal recovers from storms that disrupted campaigning.
