LISBON: Moderate Socialist Antonio Jose Seguro appeared to be headed for a ​landslide victory in Portugal’s presidential runoff on Sunday, with two exit polls putting him in the 67 percent-73 percent range, well ahead of his far-right, anti-establishment rival Andre ‌Ventura.
The exit ‌polls conducted ‌for ⁠television ​channels ‌RTP, SIC and TVI/CNN placed Ventura at 27 percent-33 percent, still a better result than the 22.8 percent his anti-immigration Chega party achieved in last year’s general ⁠election.
Last year, Chega became the ‌second-largest parliamentary force, overtaking the ‍Socialists and ‍landing behind the center-right ruling ‍alliance, which garnered 31.2 percent.
Despite his loss on Sunday, 43-year-old Ventura, a charismatic former TV sports ​commentator, can now boast increased support, reflecting the growing ⁠influence of the far right in Portugal and much of Europe.
The presidency is a largely ceremonial role in Portugal but wields some key powers, including in some circumstances to dissolve parliament, to call a snap parliamentary ‌election, and to veto legislation.