he election campaign has been disrupted by the storms, which have killed at least seven people, and at least 14 of the worst affected constituencies have postponed voting for nearly 32,000 people by one week.

Polling stations opened at 8:00 am, with 11 million voters at home and abroad eligible to cast their ballots. First exit polls are expected around 8:00 pm.

Socialist candidate Antonio Jose Seguro is almost certain to beat outspoken far-right leader Andre Ventura but the far-right score will nevertheless be watched closely.

Ventura's Chega (Enough) party was only created in 2019 but is now the largest opposition force in parliament.

The storms and fierce gales that swept in from the Atlantic have killed at least seven people and left an estimated 4 billion in damage.

The latest victim -- before the weather improved during the weekend -- was a 46-year-old volunteer with the emergency services who died trying to cross a flooded zone on Saturday.

Ventura, who is trailing Seguro in the polls, alleged Portugal's political leaders had shown themselves to be "useless" and called for the election to be postponed.

That demand was rejected and Seguro, during his last campaign rally on Friday, accused Ventura of "doing everything to keep the Portuguese from turning out to vote".

(With newswires)

Originally published on RFI