Portugal woke up stunned not only by the low turnout – which stood “only” at 60% – but with a re-election of a President with a consolidated position and the challenge of the first significant victory for an extreme-right party in Portugal. On an election night that was expected to be marked by abstention, considering the imposed State of Emergency, the high number of voters in prophylactic isolation prevented from going to the polls and the one million and a half Portuguese registered abroad who could not postal vote, the final results were the surprising part.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has consolidated his place with 60.70% of the votes and was re-elected with more votes than on his first election. The vote of confidence given to the President reinforced the will of the Portuguese to have a President who is close to the population, close to the Socialist Government, even if he represents the center-right space in Portugal, and who is “the President of all Portuguese”.
Ana Gomes, a diplomat, and former MEP of the Socialist Party (PS), with 12.97% of the votes guaranteed a second place with little expression. This candidacy on the left of Marcelo hoped to get a second round with the re-elected President, which was far from happening. However, last night, Gomes recalled that her candidacy did not give the far right a chance of a second place and although the result fell short of expectations, she achieved this goal. Also, from an internal point of view, Ana Gomes represents the left wing of the Socialist Party – headed by Pedro Nuno Santos, Minister of Infrastructure – which was believed to be stronger and heavier, coming out weaker.
And what was announced and feared was confirmed: the great growth of the extreme-right in Portugal. Having reached only the 3rd place (11.90%), André Ventura, President of Chega (Enough in English), sang victory for the position that places him 1% behind the second candidate. With almost half a million voters, this result predicts a reconfiguration of the right in Portugal and the rise of the right-wing radicalism. This result is expected to be reflected in the increase of parliamentary representation of Chega in the next parliamentary elections, which represents a huge challenge for all parties, but in particular for those on the right spectrum.
On the left, the fall could not have been greater. Marisa Matias, MEP of Bloco de Esquerda (left-wing party) is unanimously considered the great loser of the night. She reached only 3.95% of the votes when just five years ago she had reached 10.12%. João Ferreira, the candidate of the Portuguese Communist Party with 4.32% of the votes, is ahead of Marisa Matias, something which certainly cheers the party, as Bloco de Esquerda is the one that most resembles to the party. The weak results of the Communists and Bloco de Esquerda, who previously formed an alliance with the Government, will most probably force these parties to reinforce the partnership with António Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal (from the Socialist Party), to strengthen the left forces against the new far-right movements on the next legislative elections.
The Iniciativa Liberal (Liberal Party), the youngest party running, consolidated its political space and increased its electorate, doubling from 1.29% in the legislative elections (which gave them one seat at the Portuguese Parliament) to 3.22% now in the Presidential Elections. The last place was for Vitorino Silva, with 2.94%, a non-partisan candidate.
“Nação pequena que foi maior do que os deuses em geral o permitem”[1] quoted yesterday the re-elected President. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who faces enormous challenges for the future, raised hopes that this nation will remain bigger and far from extremisms.
[1] “Small nation that was bigger than the gods in general allow” free translation
Bárbara Vaz Loureiro
Consultora de Public Affairs ATREVIA