Portugal’s president-elect António José Seguro got a welcome boost yesterday when the ‘final results’ of the second-round of voting came through from the ‘straggler municipalities’ which delayed voting on February 8 due to storm damages and difficulties.
Results showed overwhelmingly that the former PS leader (but self-declared ‘moderate’) is the majority choice, no matter what the circumstances. He polled 66.83% of the total number of votes, as opposed to the 33.17% of his right-wing populist adversary, André Ventura.
Social media commentary yesterday showed that many voters – particularly in the area of Alcácer do Sal – had no intention of exercising their democratic right as they felt the system had not been ‘there for them’ in their hour of need. Arguably, many municipalities are still feeling this – but the reality is that when the final votes were counted, Mr Seguro had taken more than 3.5 million (a record for any president in this country).
Writing over social media, Mr Seguro – who officially takes office on March 9 – wrote: “I salute all those who voted today and you could not do so last Sunday. Democracy lives through the participation of all of us. Each vote is an affirmation of freedom, responsibility and hope for the future. I also want to thank, in a very special way, all those who made the realisation of today’s vote possible: the members of the polling stations, the officials, the security forces and all those who, with a sense of duty and public service, guaranteed that this day happened with normality, transparency and respect. Democracy is built every day. And today, once again, it was alive. Thank you everybody. I wish for a return to normal life as soon as possible”.
Voting yesterday went ahead in 20 parishes, including the municipalities of Alcácer do Sal (Setúbal), Arruda dos Vinhos (Lisbon) and Golegã (Santarém).
Today, the president elect is visiting Montemor-o-Velho – a community that has been inundated by floodwaters and from which a couple, in their 60s, has been missing for the best part of a week. Searches are still ongoing.
Source material: Lusa/ Correio da Manhã
