health
February 6, 2026
Calls to postpone presidential election as Storm Leonardo lashes Portugal and Spain
Portugal’s far-right Chega party has said vote should be delayed as state of calamity declared in 69 areas
TL;DR
- Storm Leonardo has caused at least two deaths and forced the evacuation of over 7,000 people in Spain and Portugal.
- The Portuguese government has extended a state of calamity in 69 municipalities due to the ongoing storm.
- Heavy rains have led to flooding, overflowing rivers, and concerns about landslides in Andalucía, Spain.
- The olive harvest in Jaén province, Spain, has suffered an estimated €200m in losses.
- Storm Marta is expected to bring further heavy rain and strong winds to already affected areas.
- Flooding has impacted towns along the Douro and Sado rivers in Portugal, with the Tagus river facing its worst flood threat in nearly three decades.
- Calls to postpone the second round of Portugal's presidential election have been made but rejected by the national electoral authority.
- Scientists attribute the increased intensity and frequency of such extreme weather events to human-driven climate breakdown.
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