Kiev. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – January 24, 2021 \u2013 International News<\/p>\n
Today, January 24, Portugal will hold presidential elections and the vote will take place in a state of emergency in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
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Seven candidates are running for the top post, including incumbent Marcelo Rebelo di Souza.<\/p>\n
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Polling stations will open at 8 am local time and will be open until 19:00.<\/p>\n
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More than 9 million people have the right to vote in the country. Experts expect the turnout to be low.<\/p>\n
If none of the candidates will be able to get more than 50% of the vote in today’s voting, then on February 14 Portugal will face a second round of elections.<\/p>\n
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The political situation in the country and quarantine<\/p>\n
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The current head of state, 72-year-old Rebelo di Souza, took office in 2016 and, according to opinion polls, is leading the race<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Radio e Televisao de Portugal previously published a poll according to which di Souza can support 63% of voters. His main rival, lawyer and ex-diplomat Ana Gomes, according to the survey, can get only 14% of the vote.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The election will take place against the backdrop of a pandemic. In Portugal, a total of more than 600 thousand cases of coronavirus infection.<\/p>\n Recently, the country’s authorities announced the tightening of restrictive measures: residents should not unnecessarily leave their homes, restaurants and cafes work only to prepare takeaway food, indoor gyms, various cultural institutions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The issue of postponing the elections was also raised, but no consensus was reached. However, the authorities have taken a number of measures – increased the time for early voting and the number of polling stations in general.<\/p>\n