LISBON: A record 11 candidates are standing in Portugal’s presidential election Sunday, with a populist party leader poised to possibly bring another political breakthrough for Europe’s growing far-right parties.
The large field makes it unlikely that any candidate will capture more than 50 percent of the vote for a first-round win. That would leave the two top candidates to compete in a runoff ballot next month.
Almost 11 million people are eligible to vote in the election, with most results expected late in the day. The winner will replace President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who has served the limit of two five-year terms.
Polls opened at 8 a.m. on a mostly sunny day across the country and were due to close 12 hours later.
Main candidates
