One of the effects of media focus on Portugal’s devastating weather is that the presidential campaign has been almost completely eclipsed.
As commentators have been remarking: “The candidates are still there. The press just gives them very little attention – and the country is focused on the storms…”
What this means for Sunday’s second-round of voting is that abstention could actually creep up (it was well down in the first round on January 18).
Pundits also suggest that CHEGA candidate, André Ventura, could benefit from the moment, as feelings are not ‘with the state’ – and his adversary, PS Socialist António José Seguro, is marketing himself as the ‘state’s best choice’: the man that sees political figures across the board saying they will vote for him (because André Ventura is too much of a threat to ‘the system’/ democracy).
Today sees both men in Beja, where António José Seguro won 33.7% of the votes in the first round – 3,300 votes ahead of those clinched by André Ventura.
Yesterday saw both men ‘on the campaign trail’, visiting different locations affected by Storm Kristin – and they were being followed by a press posse (even if it was slightly reduced) which saw writers suggest that André Ventura is (as his opponent has acknowledged) much more focused on becoming a future prime minister.
Firing off criticism in every direction, Ventura painted the picture of a government “that transmits an image of incompetence and neglect. Ministers are in the streets – I think on Luís Montenegro’s orders – but every time they speak, they bury the government’s image further”, he said – somehow echoing the reservations voiced by President Marcelo last night.
Mr Seguro meantime has called for ‘rapid support’ for victims and businesses affected by Storm Kristin, and continues to receive cross-party support for the second round of voting on February 8. One of the latest ‘non-Socialists’ to throw their weight behind Seguro’s candidacy is former leader of the PSD party, Manuela Ferreira Leite.
António José Seguro was the highest scorer of the first round last month – taking 31.11% (1,755,563 votes); André Ventura came in second with 23.52% (1,327,021 votes).
Source material: SIC/ Correio da Manhã
