Some 8.5 million Portuguese voters go to the polls today to elect a president, with incumbent Mr Jorge Sampaio expected to win another term after a low-key campaign.
The main focus of interest is whether Mr Sampaio, a member of the ruling Socialist Party, can win the 50 per cent of the votes required for a first-round victory over his main opponent right-wing candidate Mr Joaquim Ferreira do Amaral.
With the latest opinion polls showing Mr Sampaio with 63 per cent support expectations were high here that he would easily win a second five-year term in office. The Portuguese constitution allows a president to serve no more than two terms.
The incumbent president has repeatedly warned his supporters during the election campaign against the risk that voter apathy could jeopardise the result.
An apparent lack of any divisive issues and unprecedented growth rates in the country in recent years have fuelled expectations that voter turnout might reach a historical low today.
Mr Sampaio's main opponent enjoys the support of the country's main opposition parties, the Social Democratic party (PSD) and the Popular Party (PP). According to the opinion polls he can expect 29 per cent of the votes.
Mr Do Amaral has argued that the re-election of Mr Sampaio, who vows to transcend ideological divisions to become "the president of all Portuguese", might bolster the left's already solid hold on power, but his remarks have found no echo in the electorate.
AFP