Exit poll: Incumbent wins Portugal's presidential election
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal’s president appeared poised to win a second term in office Sunday, in an election held amid a devastating COVID-19 surge that has made the European country the worst in the world for cases and deaths.
An exit poll suggested that center-right incumbent Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa captured 57-62% of the vote, which would send him for a final five-year term.
Socialist candidate Ana Gomes came second with between 13-16%, the poll by the Portuguese Catholic University’s Polling Center for public broadcaster RTP suggested.
In what would be a stunning result, newly arrived right-wing populist André Ventura came third with 16%, the poll indicated. Such a showing for an extremist in mainstream Portuguese politics would have been unthinkable until recently.
Four other candidates ran for president.
The head of state in Portugal possesses no legislative powers, which are held by parliament and the government, but is an influential voice in the running of the country.
The exit poll estimated the turnout at 45-50% — lower than in recent elections and apparently confirming concerns that some people would stay away for fear of becoming infected with COVID-19. Political leaders say that when the pandemic began to worsen there was no longer enough time to change the Portuguese Constitution to allow a postponement.
Portugal has the world’s highest rates of new daily infections and deaths per 100,000 population, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, and its public health system is currently under huge strain.
Rebelo de Sousa, 72, has long been viewed as the clear front-runner in the contest. He is an affable law professor and former television personality who as president has consistently had an approval rating of 60% or more.
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