According to the latest surveys, the center right is once again projected to win the most votes, narrowly ahead of the Socialist Party. Although support for the far-right Chega party has fallen slightly, it is still likely to remain the third-largest group in the parliament and will therefore be positioned to act as kingmaker during the next term.
With the country’s two largest parties neck-and-neck in the polls, participation is expected to be a decisive factor in the results, but it is feared that fatigue will keep electors from voting. The snap elections are being wedged into the middle of a year that was already set to be a marathon for voters.
Regional elections will be held on the autonomous region of Madeira later this month, while nationwide local elections are scheduled for the fall. Voters are set to head back to the polls for a final time in January, when they will be asked to choose Rebelo de Sousa’s successor as president.