Portugal's Election Campaign Begins Amid Corruption Scandals

A woman holds up a red carnation, symbol of the Portuguese 1974 revolution that restored democracy in Portugal, during a protest against the country's housing crisis, in Lisbon, Portugal, Jan.

The official two-week campaign period before Portugal’s early general election began on Sunday, with the country’s two moderate mainstream parties once again expected to collect the most votes. The center-left Socialist Party and center-right Social Democratic Party have long dominated the political landscape, with a populist party potentially influencing the outcome of the upcoming election.

Corruption scandals have marred the political scene, leading to public disillusionment with the established parties. These scandals have coincided with Portugal's upcoming 50th anniversary of democracy, following the Carnation Revolution in 1974.