This is the best summary I could come up with:

Portugal’s two-week general election campaign has officially begun with centre-right and centre-left parties leading in the polls, but a far-right populist forecast to collect almost a fifth of the vote is a further sign of Europe’s nativist drift.

However, with the Socialists favourites to win the most votes but combined rightwing parties expected to end up with more seats in parliament, many observers’ eyes were on Ventura – who has long said he will he will not back a rightist coalition unless he is formally a part of it.

Unlike in several EU member states from Finland to Italy, the far right has so far failed to make much impact in Portugal, which in April celebrates half a century since its 1974 Carnation Revolution ended almost as many years of authoritarian rule.

But the early 10 March election, called after the surprise resignation of Socialist prime minister, António Costa, is being held in the shadow of multiple corruption scandals that have fuelled voter disenchantment and favour the far right, analysts say.

In recent weeks, a Lisbon court has also ruled that a former Socialist prime minister, José Sócrates, should stand trial over allegations that he pocketed about €34m (£29m) during his time in power from graft, fraud and money laundering.

A housing crisis, persistent low pay levels and unreliable public health services are other areas where the records of the two main parties – which polls suggest are neck-and-neck on 28% and 29% of the vote – are being challenged.

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