Presidential candidate Manuel João Vieira has already cast his vote but did not want to reveal who he voted for. However, he laments the excessively high abstention that has existed in the country “over the last 20 years”.
"Many people care more about football" — Manuel João Vieira laments "historically high" abstention
Sunday, 18 January 2026RSS
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Context & Explainers
Abstention is when eligible voters choose not to vote; it is usually reported as the percentage of registered voters who do not cast a ballot. A falling abstention rate can change electoral outcomes and boost the perceived legitimacy of the result, so a predicted drop — including among younger voters — matters for how parties and candidates plan campaigning and turnout efforts.
