The votes of Portuguese voters residing abroad begin to be counted in Lisbon this Monday, in an operation that will last until Wednesday and which will determine the four deputies from the European and Non-European circles.
The spokesperson for the National Elections Commission (CNE) confirms that the “number of emigrant votes verified in 2022”, in the last legislative elections, “was largely exceeded”.
On the day that the process of counting these votes begins, and which continues until March 20th, Fernando Anastácio reveals that “in the order of 300 thousand votes” have already been received.
“It is natural that more will be received throughout Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday”, he explains, which is why there is “a greater participation” than that seen two years ago.
In an interview with Renaissancethe CNE spokesperson reveals that the counting of votes will take place “at a set of tables that are set up at the Lisbon International Fair”. “Hundreds of people” participate in the process.
The last bulletins will be received by “the late afternoon of March 20th”, precisely “ten days after the elections” and, from then on “we will have the provisional results”. Afterwards, “we still have two days for any appeals that may exist”. Afterwards, “the electoral results will be officially published” and it will be known who the last four deputies elected to the new Assembly of the Republic are.
The votes of Portuguese emigrants will result in the election of four deputies, who could influence the final result of the legislative elections, since the Democratic Alliance coalition (PSD/CDS/PPM) elected 79 deputies and the PS 77.
Only after Wednesday, the last day of collecting and counting these votes, will the President of the Republic, who must have consulted all parties with parliamentary seats by that date, nominate the new prime minister.
In the 2022 legislative elections, the PS won both places in Europe and shared the Outside Europe circle with the PSD.
