At the start of the second round of the presidential election, António José Seguro, the clear winner in the first round, urges voters not to demobilise but admits that abstention is one of his concerns as the Portuguese return to the polls on 8 February.
Seguro fears low turnout and downplays Montenegro's neutrality: "I don't miss the support of absolutely anyone"
Monday, 26 January 2026RSS
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.
