LISBON, Feb 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Portugal began voting in the second round of a presidential election on Sunday, with the far right in the run-off and the country battered by deadly storms. Polling stations opened at 8:00 am (0800 GMT), with 11 million voters at home and abroad eligible to cast their ballots. The storms have killed at least five people, triggered flooding and left an estimated four billion euros ($4.7 billion) in damage. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said the storms had caused a "devastating crisis" but that the threats to voting could be overcome. The last presidential election went ahead five years ago despite the coronavirus pandemic, outgoing president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said he had told Ventura on Friday.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 08, 2026 08:52 UTC