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Lisbon (dpa) - In Portugal, which was particularly hard hit by the corona pandemic, the presidential election began on Sunday.
Conservative incumbent Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is considered a big favorite.
According to all surveys, the 72-year-old law professor and TV journalist will win the necessary absolute majority in the first round.
The result is expected on Monday night.
Immediately after the polling stations close in the evening, the first forecasts should be made.
Portugal has just been declared a corona high-risk area by Germany.
Because of the pandemic, there have been numerous calls for the presidential election to be postponed.
The number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days was recently around 750 - one of the highest values in the world.
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Rebelo de Sousa, who has been in office since 2016, can expect 55 to 70 percent of the vote, according to surveys.
According to the Portuguese media, however, the result could be tighter because supporters of the incumbent could stay away from the ballot boxes in view of the victory that appears to be certain and the risk of infection with the Sars-CoV-2 virus.
The head of state has a lot of power in Portugal.
The president can both veto laws and dissolve parliament and call new elections.
For Portugal it will be the tenth presidential election since the Carnation Revolution of 1974.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210124-99-147342 / 3