Moderate socialist defeats far-right populist Andr\u00e9 Ventura, with exit polls putting him comfortably above two-thirds of vote<\/p>\n
Moderate socialist Ant\u00f3nio Jos\u00e9 Seguro secured a landslide victory and a five-year term as Portugal\u2019s president in a runoff vote on Sunday, beating his far-right, anti-establishment rival Andr\u00e9 Ventura, exit polls and partial results showed.
A succession of storms in recent days failed to deter voters, with turnout at about the same level as in the first round on 18 January, even though three municipal councils in southern and central Portugal had to postpone voting by a week due to floods.
\u201cThe response the Portuguese people gave today, their commitment to freedom, democracy, and the future of our country, leaves me naturally moved and proud of our nation,\u201d Seguro, 63, told reporters.
The postponement affected about 37,000 registered voters, or about 0.3% of the total, and is unlikely to influence the overall result. With nearly 70% of votes counted, Seguro garnered 64%. Ventura trailed behind at 36%, still likely to secure a much stronger result than the 22.8% his anti-immigration Chega party achieved in last year\u2019s general election. Ballots in large cities such as Lisbon and Porto are counted towards the end.
Two exit polls placed Seguro in the 67%-73% range and Ventura at 27%-33%.
Last year, Chega became the second-largest parliamentary force, overtaking the Socialists and landing behind the centre-right ruling alliance, which garnered 31.2%.
Despite his loss on Sunday, 43-year-old Ventura, a charismatic former TV sports commentator, can now boast increased support, reflecting the growing influence of the far right in Portugal and much of Europe<\/a>.
\u201cThe entire political system, across both right and left, united against me,\u201d Ventura told reporters as he left a Catholic mass in central Lisbon. \u201cEven so … I believe the leadership of the right has been defined and secured today. I expect to lead that political space from this day forward.\u201c
Seguro has cast himself as the candidate of a \u201cmodern and moderate\u201d left who can actively mediate to avert political crises and defend democratic values. He received backing from prominent conservatives after the first round amid concerns over what many see as Ventura\u2019s populist, authoritarian tendencies.
Portugal\u2019s presidency is a largely ceremonial role but holds some important powers, including the ability to dissolve parliament under certain circumstances. Ventura had said he would be a more \u201cinterventionist\u201d president, advocating increased powers for the head of state.
Seguro has positioned himself as a moderate candidate who will cooperate with Portugal\u2019s centre-right minority government, repudiating Ventura\u2019s anti-establishment and anti-immigrant tirades.
The longstanding Socialist politician has won the support of other mainstream politicians on the left and right who want to halt the rising populist tide<\/a>.
In Portugal, the president is largely a figurehead with no executive power. Traditionally, the head of state stands above the political fray, mediating disputes and defusing tensions.
However, the president is an influential voice and has some powerful tools at their disposal, being able to veto legislation from parliament, although the veto can be overturned. The head of state also possesses what in Portuguese political jargon is called an \u201catomic bomb\u201d, the power to dissolve parliament and call early elections.
In May, Portugal held its third general election in three years in the country\u2019s worst bout of political instability for decades, and steadying the ship is a key challenge for the next president.
Ventura, an eloquent and theatrical politician, has rejected political accommodation in favour of a more combative stance. One of his main targets has been what he calls excessive immigration, as foreign workers have become more conspicuous in Portugal in recent years. \u201cPortugal is ours,\u201d he said.
During the campaign, Ventura put up billboards across the country that said: \u201cThis isn\u2019t Bangladesh\u201d and \u201cImmigrants shouldn\u2019t be allowed to live on welfare.\u201d
Although he founded Chega less than seven years ago, its rise in public support made it the second-largest party in Portugal\u2019s parliament in the 18 May general election.
In March, the winner will replace the centre-right president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who has served the limit of two five-year terms.<\/p>\n