Portugal's presidential election may deliver another gain for populists in Europe

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — A record 11 candidates are standing in Portugal’s presidential election Sunday, with a populist party leader poised to possibly bring another political breakthrough for Europe’s growing far-right parties.

The large field makes it unlikely that any candidate will capture more than 50% of the vote for a first-round win. That would leave the two top candidates to compete in a runoff ballot next month.

Almost 11 million people are eligible to vote in the election, with most results expected late in the day. The winner will replace President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who has served the limit of two five-year terms.

Polls opened at 8 a.m. on a mostly sunny day across the country and were due to close 12 hours later.

Among the front-runners, according to recent opinion polls, are André Ventura, the leader of the populist Chega (Enough) party. Chega’s surge in public support made it the second-largest party in Portugal’s parliament last year, just six years after it was founded.

One of Ventura’s main targets has been what he calls excessive immigration, as foreign workers have become more conspicuous in Portugal in recent years. “Portugal is ours,” he says.

During the election campaign, Ventura put up billboards across the country saying, “This isn’t Bangladesh” and “Immigrants shouldn’t be allowed to live on welfare.”

Such blatant anti-immigrant sentiment expressed in public was unthinkable in Portugal just a few years ago.

Other leading candidates are from the country’s two main parties that have alternated in power for the past half-century: Luís Marques Mendes from the center-right Social Democratic Party, currently in government, and António José Seguro of the center-left Socialist Party.

A strong challenge is expected from retired Rear Adm. Henrique Gouveia e Melo, who is running as an independent and won public acclaim for overseeing the speedy rollout of COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic.

Only one woman is among the candidates. Portugal has never had a female or non-white head of state.

Last May, Portugal held its third general election in three years in its worst spell of political instability for decades. Steadying the ship is a key challenge for the next president.

Ventura, the populist leader, has sought to turn immigration into a campaign issue, but voters appear more concerned about a housing crisis and the cost of living.

A law permitting euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in Portugal that parliament approved in 2022, but has been held up by constitutional objections, will likely land on the president’s desk for approval.

Social Democrat Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said after casting his vote that the head of state is “a key factor” in achieving social and political consensus at a time when “the world is living through a lot of conflict.”

In Portugal, the president is largely a figurehead with no executive power. Mostly, the head of state aims to stand above the political fray, mediating disputes and defusing tensions.

However, the president is an influential voice and possesses some powerful tools, being able to veto legislation from parliament, although the veto can be overturned. The head of state also possesses what in Portuguese political jargon is called an “atomic bomb” — the power to dissolve parliament and call early elections.

Political events in Portugal have little bearing on the overall direction of the European Union. It has one of the bloc’s smallest economies, and its armed forces are of a modest size.

A runoff between the top two finishers on Sunday will be held on Feb. 8.

That will decide who serves a five-year term at the president’s riverside “pink palace” in Lisbon.

A man folds his ballot as he votes in Portugal's presidential election at a polling station in Lisbon, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Presidential candidate Henrique Gouveia e Melo, a retired Rear Admiral running as an independent, shakes hands with a fish seller at a market in Lisbon, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, while campaigning for Sunday's presidential election. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Presidential candidate Andre Ventura, of the populist Chega party, gestures to supporters while campaigning for Sunday's presidential election, in Lisbon, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Presidential candidate Antonio Jose Seguro, of the center-left Socialist Party, delivers a speech at his campaign closing rally ahead of Sunday's presidential election, in Lisbon, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Presidential candidate Antonio Jose Seguro, of the center-left Socialist Party, delivers a speech at his campaign closing rally ahead of Sunday's presidential election, in Lisbon, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Presidential candidate Antonio Jose Seguro, of the center-left Socialist Party, delivers a speech at his campaign closing rally ahead of Sunday's presidential election, in Lisbon, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Presidential candidate Luis Marques Mendes, center right, from the center-right Social Democratic Party, with his wife Rosa Sofia Salazar, in the background, greets supporters while campaigning for Sunday's presidential election, in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Presidential candidate Luis Marques Mendes, from the center-right Social Democratic Party, with his wife Rosa Sofia Salazar, gestures to supporters while campaigning for Sunday's presidential election, in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

TARVISIO, Italy (AP) — At age 41, Lindsey Vonn’s ability to consistently finish on the World Cup speed circuit’s podium is unparalleled.

Vonn stood second in a super-G on Sunday that was held amid difficult visibility to set up her seventh podium result in eight races this season.

No other skier has more than three podiums in the speed events — and Vonn's “worst” result this season is fourth.

The results make Vonn a clear medal favorite in both downhill and super-G for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, which open in less than three weeks.

Vonn was beaten only by Germany’s Emma Aicher, who is 19 years younger.

Aicher finished 0.27 seconds ahead of Vonn to set up her second victory this season, with former Olympic champion Ester Ledecka third, 0.94 behind.

“It was tough conditions with the visibility but I’m really happy to be on the podium again,” Vonn said. “Of course, I’m close to another win, but it is what it is. I think I’ll save the hundredths for Cortina.”

Lower-ranked skiers were still coming down the course.

Alice Robinson, the New Zealand skier who won two giant slaloms and a super-G this season, crashed into the final gate and hit the snow hard. She got right back up and appeared to avoid serious injury but appeared shaken.

Fog on the upper section made it difficult for skiers to navigate the Prampero course.

Vonn led Aicher at every checkpoint but lost time on the final gates.

It's set to be Aicher’s fourth career victory after two downhills and a super-G. She’s one of the few skiers on the circuit who competes in all four disciplines.

Aicher was born in Sweden to a Swedish mother and a German father.

Ledecka, the Czech racer who claimed Olympic golds in both snowboarding and skiing at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, set up her first podium of the season.

Romane Miradoli of France finished fourth and Keely Cashman of the United States was fifth for the best result of her career.

The women’s circuit remains in Italy for the Kronplatz giant slalom on Tuesday.

There is only one more set of speed races before the Olympics, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30-31.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

New Zealand's Alice Robinson crashes during an alpine ski, women's World Cup Super G, in Tarvisio, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

New Zealand's Alice Robinson crashes during an alpine ski, women's World Cup Super G, in Tarvisio, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Czech Republic's Ester Ledecka celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's World Cup Super G, in Tarvisio, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Germany's Emma Aicher celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's World Cup Super G, in Tarvisio, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

United States' Lindsey Vonn celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's World Cup Super G, in Tarvisio, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)