• Portugal's presidential runoff features Antonio Jose Seguro and Andre Ventura.
• Voting affected by severe storms, postponing some votes for over 30,000 people.
• Seguro is projected to win decisively, but Ventura's far-right support is closely monitored.

Portugal is in the midst of a presidential runoff election, with polls opening at 8:00 AM local time on February 8, 2026. Voters are choosing between Socialist leader Antonio Jose Seguro and far-right contender Andre Ventura. Exit polls are anticipated around 8 PM local time, amid predictions of a strong win for Seguro, who received 31.1% of the first round votes compared to Ventura's 23.5%, according to Al Jazeera, Le Monde, and Reuters.

The election occurs under challenging conditions, as severe storms have wreaked havoc across the country, leading to the postponement of voting in several constituencies, affecting approximately 32,000 voters. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro acknowledged the storms as a "devastating crisis," but emphasized that the elections should proceed as planned. Some regions have reported substantial damage, estimated at €4 billion, due to flooding and strong winds, according to Le Monde and Reuters.

While Seguro is favored, Ventura's rise reflects a growing far-right sentiment, which observers are keenly monitoring. Deemed potentially more "interventionist," Ventura has proposed increased powers for the presidency. Polls indicate that Ventura’s party, Chega, has gained significant political strength, raising concerns about populism and anti-immigration sentiments, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.