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The crown crisis in Portugal is now worse than in many other countries. But voters seem to trust President Rebelo de Sousa. According to the national electoral authority, he was confirmed in office with a good 61 percent.
The incumbent conservative Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa won the presidential elections in Portugal with a good 61 percent, as announced by the national electoral authority after counting more than 99 percent of the votes.
This would mean that he would be re-elected for a final term of five years. Rebelo de Sousa has long been considered the most promising candidate. The law professor, who was also a television personality, always had approval ratings of 60 percent or higher. With his political style he became popular among the Portuguese.
According to the electoral authority, the socialist candidate Ana Gomes finished in second place with a good 12.7 percent. Right-wing populist newcomer André Ventura achieved an unexpectedly good result with just under 11.9 percent. Until recently, it would have been unthinkable in Portuguese politics for an extremist to get so many votes. Four other candidates had also run for office.
Close cooperation
The president has no legislative power in Portugal, but he is an influential voice. Rebelo de Sousa used to be the president of the Conservatives, known in Portugal as Social Democrats. He has worked closely with the socialist minority government of Prime Minister António Costa, especially in the fight against the corona pandemic.
More than 10,000 deaths per crown
The polling institute estimated the turnout to be 45 to 50 percent, which would have been lower than in the recent past. Politicians had criticized that due to the pandemic situation there was not enough time to amend the constitution and allow a postponement.
Portugal has the highest number of new corona infections and deaths per 100,000 inhabitants worldwide, according to data from the US Johns Hopkins University. A second blockade has been in effect in the country for a week and a half. There have been more than 10,000 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic.
