By Andrei Khalip

LISBON (Reuters – The snap parliamentary election will see Portuguese marking their ballots Sunday. With no clear winner, uncertainty is heightened due to low turnout and record levels of coronavirus infections.

Infected people can leave isolation to cast their ballots in person. The government recommends that this be done in the hour prior to polling stations closing at 7:00 PM (1900 GMT). It also promises “absolute security” during voting.

A COVID-19 isolating more than 10% of Portugal’s 10 million inhabitants. Infections have increased in recent years, as in other European countries. However, the Omicron variant has sparked an increase in infections, but widespread vaccinations have kept hospitalisations and deaths lower than they were in previous waves.

It is possible to lose a lot of the lead that the Socialists held in the opinion polls to the main opposition, the Social Democrats. This means the election will be wide open. Analysts warn that projections could be hampered by low turnout.

After parliament’s rejection of the budget bill by the minor Socialist government, the vote was called. It is expected to increase political volatility. If one party fails to form a cohesive alliance that can work, it could lead to a temporary government.

Portugal could be denied access to the 16.6 billion euro ($18.7billion) EU-wide pandemic recovery assistance package. However, Portugal can make use of these funds for projects that aim at increasing economic growth in the poorest countries of western Europe.

Paulo Pinto (a Lisbon-based car mechanic aged 43) said that he hopes the government settles and there is no uncertainty. “I hope sufficient people will vote to make COVID work for them.

Sofia Mantua (27-year-old pharmacy worker) said that she felt secure as she prepared to vote with her pen, disinfectant, and a better quality face mask than what she uses for surgery.

The risk of infection is already present in our daily lives. She said that she doesn’t believe voting will increase my risk.