Emigrés in Europe, US, Africa, Asia Oceania all want a say in Portugal’s future
Votes received from Portuguese emigrés have increased by almost two-thirds compared to the 2022 legislative elections, according to data from the National Electoral Commission (CNE).
The votes will elect four MPs, which could influence the final result of these complicated elections (if PS, for example, takes all four seats: right now AD is leading the voting tally with 79 MPs against PS’ 77) .
Of the more than 1.5 million letters sent out by Portugal to emigré voters living abroad since February 4, 211, 855 reply letters have been received.
The letters with the ballot papers began arriving on February 20. Most were sent from Europe 186,100 (88%), followed by America (21,471, 10%), Africa (3,404, 2%) and Asia Oceania (880).
The 211,855 letters received represent 13.74 % of letters sent.
Compared to the 2022 elections, when 128,793 letters arrived during the same period, representing 8.48% of the letters sent, today’s figures show an increase of almost two thirds (64.49%), explains Lusa.
Each letter of dispatch contained a ballot paper from the respective constituency, a green envelope to put the ballot paper in after voting, a white envelope (reply envelope, postage paid) and a leaflet with instructions on how to fill it in and return it (in Portuguese, English and French).
On the ballot paper, the voter had to mark their choice of vote with a cross, fold it in four, place it inside the green envelope (without any indications or documents), and seal it. The green envelope then had to be placed in the white envelope, together with a copy of the citizen’s card or identity card, and, once sealed, sent by post before election day.
The votes of these emigrés will be counted on March 18, 19, and 20, with the result scheduled for the end of the 20th.
Only then, and after hearing the parties with parliamentary representation, will the President of the Republic appoint the new prime minister.
AD Democratic Alliance , which brings together PSD, CDS-PP and PPM, with 29.49% of the votes counted, won 79 seats in the Assembly of the Republic in Sunday’s legislative elections, against 77 for the PS (28.66%), followed by CHEGA with 48 elected seats (18.06%).
IL, with eight seats, BE, with five, and PAN, with one, maintained their number of MPs. LIVRE went from one to four MPs, while CDU (communist alliance) lost two seats and was left with just four MPs.
LUSA
