Henrique Gouveia e Melo cast his vote this morning in Lisbon. After a campaign he described as “very intense”, the presidential candidate expressed a positive and confident mood. Focusing on the importance of civic participation, Gouveia e Melo issued a direct appeal against abstention, emphasising that voting is the essential tool for the Portuguese to take control of their own destiny.
Gouveia e Melo votes in Lisbon and describes elections as a "hymn to democracy"
Sunday, 18 January 2026RSS
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Context & Explainers
Emigrant voting lets Portuguese citizens living abroad cast ballots in national elections, usually by mail or at consulates. With several hundred thousand registered overseas voters, their turnout and geographic distribution can be decisive in close presidential contests, so candidates often campaign to win votes in key emigrant communities.
Tactical voting means choosing a less-preferred candidate to achieve a strategic outcome—for example concentrating support to ensure a preferred candidate reaches the second round (segunda volta) or to block a rival. Party leaders urge it when they want to avoid splitting votes among similar candidates and increase the chance of a favourable runoff result.
