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TV pundit favourite to win Portuguese presidential election TV pundit favourite to win Portuguese presidential election
(about 2 hours later)
Portuguese voters began voting Sunday to choose their president, in an election being closely watched in Brussels as the country recovers from a €78bn bailout. Portuguese voters began voting on Sunday to choose their president in an election closely watched in Brussels as the country recovers from a €78bn (£59bn) bailout.
Although the post is largely ceremonial, the president has make-or-break power over the nation’s fragile ruling alliance and the power to dissolve parliament in the event of a crisis. The post is largely ceremonial, but the president has make-or-break power over the nation’s fragile ruling coalition, and to dissolve parliament in the event of a crisis.
Since inconclusive elections in October, Portugal’s minority Socialist government has been relying on a delicate coalition with the extreme left to run the country of 10.4 million people. Since inconclusive elections in October, Portugal’s minority Socialist government has been relying on a alliance with the extreme left to run the country of 10.4 million people.
The overwhelming favourite to be next head of state is a TV pundit, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The overwhelming favourite to be next head of state is the TV pundit Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Known as Professor Marcelo to his fans, he comes into the race with a popularity that has been built thanks to decades in the public eye. Known as Professor Marcelo to his fans, he entered the race with a popularity built on decades in the public eye.
“I voted for Professor Marcelo. I have been seeing him on television for years and I know his political beliefs,” said Mario Machado, a 72-year-old pensioner, speaking in a wealthy area of Lisbon.“I voted for Professor Marcelo. I have been seeing him on television for years and I know his political beliefs,” said Mario Machado, a 72-year-old pensioner, speaking in a wealthy area of Lisbon.
The 67-year-old law professor has been involved in Portuguese politics and media since his youth, co-founding a weekly newspaper in his 20s and helping to establish the centre-right Social Democratic party.The 67-year-old law professor has been involved in Portuguese politics and media since his youth, co-founding a weekly newspaper in his 20s and helping to establish the centre-right Social Democratic party.
He made his debut as a political analyst on TV in the early 2000s, delivering clever commentary to a viewership that quickly grew. He made his debut as a political analyst on TV in the early 2000s, delivering clever commentary to a quickly growing audience.
“People love Marcelo because he is entertaining,” said Rebelo de Sousa biographer Vitor Matos. “People love Marcelo because he is entertaining,” said his biographer, Vitor Matos.
His popularity is widely expected to help him break the 50% mark for an outright win in Sunday’s voting. If none of the 10 candidates breaches this threshold, a run-off will be held on 14 February. His popularity is widely expected to help him break the 50% mark for an outright win in Sunday’s vote. If none of the 10 candidates reaches this threshold, a run-off will be held on 14 February.
The centre-right bloc of former conservative prime minister Pedro Passos Coelho won the most seats in the October ballot, but lost the absolute majority it had enjoyed since 2011. The centre-right bloc of the former conservative prime minister Pedro Passos Coelho won the most seats in the October ballot, but lost the absolute majority it had enjoyed since 2011.
The government of the Socialist prime minister, António Costa, has promised to implement a moderate programme that upholds EU budget commitments.The government of the Socialist prime minister, António Costa, has promised to implement a moderate programme that upholds EU budget commitments.
But it is forced to count on the support in parliament of a bloc of communists and greens that has not renounced its critical stance towards European budgetary rules and Portugal’s membership of Nato. It is forced, however, to count on the support in parliament of a bloc of communists and greens that has not renounced its critical stance towards European budgetary rules and Portugal’s membership of Nato.
Rebelo de Sousa is a long-time conservative who has the backing of rightwing parties but who claims total independence. Rebelo de Sousa is a long-time conservative who has the backing of rightwing parties, but who claims total independence.
He insists he will not be partisan but seek to rule “above the fray”.He insists he will not be partisan but seek to rule “above the fray”.
He would succeed Aníbal Cavaco Silva, a conservative who has served two consecutive five-year terms and who had been reluctant to hand power to a leftist coalition he viewed as “incoherent”.He would succeed Aníbal Cavaco Silva, a conservative who has served two consecutive five-year terms and who had been reluctant to hand power to a leftist coalition he viewed as “incoherent”.