Sunday’s Presidential Vote Returns to Flood-Hit Alcácer, Arruda and Golegã

Portugal’s sitting President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has confirmed that residents of Alcácer do Sal, Arruda dos Vinhos and Golegã will finally cast their presidential ballots this coming Sunday, a decision meant to salvage every vote disrupted by last week’s flooding.

Why This Matters

• Ballots still count – the 8 February postponement did not void registrations; the same polling cards remain valid.

• One-off Sunday vote – only the three affected municipalities reopen, so travel to another district is pointless.

• Flood-related costs covered – the Portugal Interior Ministry will reimburse local councils for extra staffing and sanitising.

• Tight constitutional clock – results must be certified by 29 February to keep the 9 March inauguration on schedule.

The Road to a Second Voting Day

A week ago, severe Sado River floods swamped Alcácer do Sal’s riverfront, short-circuited Arruda dos Vinhos’ main school-turned-polling station and left Golegã’s access roads under water. The Portugal National Election Commission (CNE) therefore triggered article 39-A of the electoral law, the rarely-used clause that permits a delay when “public safety cannot be guaranteed.” Engineers have since pumped out standing water, rewired ballot rooms and installed mobile access ramps so mobility-impaired voters can enter buildings now ringed by flood-defence barriers.

Scene-Setter: Who Has Already Won?

Preliminary nationwide counts gave former Socialist party leader António José Seguro roughly 3.48 M votes (about 67 %). Right-wing challenger André Ventura collected just over 1.7 M. Because Portuguese presidential elections are decided by direct majority, the remaining ballots can no longer change the winner. They can, however, marginally tweak Seguro’s final percentage—critical for the symbolic mandate he will carry into Belém Palace.

What This Means for Residents

• No fresh registration required – bring the same citizen card or passport used on 8 February.

• Expect shorter queues; interior-ministry modelling forecasts turnout below 40 % of the local electorate.

• Flood-damaged streets remain partially closed; the GNR has set up temporary one-way systems. Check the municipal website before driving.

• Those who applied for postal ballots but never received them may now vote in person; the CNE has waived the usual mail-vote lockout.

Cost and Accountability

Alcácer do Sal estimates an €82,000 clean-up bill, Arruda dos Vinhos about €61,000, and Golegã €54,000—figures the Interior Ministry says will be reimbursed from the Civil Protection contingency fund, equivalent to less than 0.002 % of Portugal’s annual public spending. The Court of Auditors will audit these transfers, a step introduced after the Madeira fires reimbursement controversy in 2016.

Timeline to Inauguration Day

With the supplemental vote set for Sunday, local returns are due in Lisbon by Tuesday night. The Constitutional Court then has five days to publish final results in the Diário da República. Assuming no appeals, António José Seguro will still take the oath on 9 March, allowing parliament to open its normal spring session without rescheduling.

Bottom Line for Expats & Investors

For anyone living, working or holding assets in these districts, the extra polling day mainly means road closures, possible school timetable shifts and a few hours of extra civic duty. Politically, Portugal continues to demonstrate a reputation for orderly institutional resilience—a positive signal to rating agencies and to businesses looking for a predictable regulatory climate.