Portuguese Presidential Race: A Tight Contest Amid Political Fragmentation

Portuguese voters headed to the polls to elect a new president, with three candidates nearly tied in opinion surveys. The political landscape has fragmented, marked by the rise of the far-right. While the presidency is mainly ceremonial, it holds key powers, making this election significant.

In a significant political development, Portuguese citizens queued at polling stations on Sunday to cast their votes in a presidential election marked by a tight contest among three leading candidates. Opinion surveys highlight a potential top-two runoff, featuring the far-right Cheap party's leader.

Since Portugal's shift from a fascist regime, a runoff election has only occurred once before, emphasizing the current political fragmentation and the emergence of the far-right. Although the presidency is a ceremonial position, it holds crucial powers including dissolving parliament and vetoing legislation.

Eleven million voters are eligible, with polling station closures set for 7 p.m., and initial results expected later. The contest largely features Socialist Antonio Jose Segundo, Cheap leader Andre Ventura, and Jiao Cot rim de Figurehead, each with significant support, indicating a tight and unpredictable race.

(With inputs from agencies.)