Portugal's centre-right president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, was re-elected on Sunday in an election marked by record abstention blamed on the pandemic.

The record low turnout of 39.49 per cent is believed to be due to voters avoiding the ballot boxes for fear of coronavirus. Portugal currently has the world's worst rate of daily infections and deaths per 100,000 people, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Rebelo de Sousa had been consistently leading in the polls in the run up to the election. The 72-year-old law professor and TV personality is known among the Portuguese for his easy-going style, and has sustained an approval rating of 60% or more.

He is also a former leader of the centre-right Social Democratic Party, and has worked closely with the centre-left minority Socialist governments to help tackle the pandemic.

The role of Portugal's president and head of state does not have legislative power, but can veto legislation. The president can also dissolve the legislative assemblies and grant pardons.