Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has returned to office for a second term with a resounding victory on Sunday in an election held amid a surge of COVID-19 cases.

The center-right incumbent of Portugal's Social Democratic Party had been widely expected to win another term. He took 61 percent of the vote, with almost all the results declared.

Socialist candidate Ana Gomes came in second with 13 percent of the vote, ahead of far-right candidate, Andre Ventura, in third with 12 percent vote. A strong showing like Ventura's would have been inconceivable until recently and will send shockwaves through Portuguese politics. Four other candidates contested the election.

The turnout was just under 40 percent, significantly lower than in recent elections, confirming concerns that voters would abstain for fear of becoming infected with COVID-19.

Portugal has the world's highest rates of new daily infections and deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University and the public health system is under huge strain. 

As the pandemic began to worsen, there was no longer enough time for a constitutional amendment to allow the postponement of the election.

In his victory speech, Rebelo de Sousa pledged to make the fight against COVID-19 his "first priority." He will serve a five-year term that will be his last due to term limits.

His first task will be to decide whether to approve a new law allowing euthanasia, for which a parliamentary bill has been passed but it can be blocked by the president or sent for a constitutional court review.

The 72-year-old, was long seen as the front-runner and has consistently had an approval rating of 60 percent or more. He won more votes in this election than in his 2016 victory.

He has endeared himself to the Portuguese with his easygoing style and photographs of him in public places routinely going viral.

With the country in lockdown, restrictions on movement were lifted for polling day.

Authorities increased the number of polling stations and allowed for early voting to reduce crowding on election day. In other precautions, voters were asked to bring their own pens and disinfectant to polling stations. Everyone voting wore a mask and kept a safe distance from each other.

Cover Image: Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP