Portugal's Presidential Election: A Close Call and a Changing Political Scene

Portugal is about to have a very close presidential election. It looks like there will be a runoff vote for the first time in 40 years. This is big news because it shows how politics in Portugal are changing. The president in Portugal doesn't have as much power as in some other countries. But they do have some important jobs. They can dissolve parliament, call for new elections, and veto laws. So, who wins matters. Andre Ventura, the leader of the far-right party Chega, is slightly ahead in the polls. He has 24% of the vote. Close behind him is Antonio Jose Seguro from the Socialist party with 23%. Joao Cotrim de Figueiredo, from the Liberal Initiative party, is also in the running with 19%. Two other candidates, including Luis Marques Mendes backed by the ruling centre-right Social Democrats (PSD), have 14% each.This election is very close. Smaller polls show even tighter races between the top five candidates. It's clear that many voters are not happy with the traditional parties. They are looking for something different. Political scientist Antonio Costa Pinto says the electorate is fragmented. This means voters are spread out among many different parties. It's not just the big two anymore. The rise of the far-right and voter disenchantment with mainstream parties are making the political landscape more complex. Andre Ventura has a high rejection rate. More than 60% of voters don't like him. This means he might not win in a runoff. But just making it to the second round would be a big deal for his party, Chega. It would give them more influence. Jose Castello Branco from Lisbon's Catolica University says the race is wide open. Ventura is making his mark in Portuguese politics. But it's still unclear who will come out on top.