Portugal’s president was returned to office for a second term with a resounding victory Sunday in an election held amid a devastating COVID-19 surge that has made the European country the worst in the world for cases and deaths, AP reported.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who had been widely expected to win, captured 61% of the vote. De Sousa, 72, was long viewed as the front-runner. He collected more votes Sunday than in his 2016 victory.

Rebelo de Sousa, a center-right moderate and former leader of Portugal’s Social Democratic Party, will serve a 5-year term that will be his last due to term limits.

He devoted most of his victory speech to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying his first thoughts went to its victims and promising to work for an economic recovery once it was over.

Socialist candidate Ana Gomes came second with 13% but close behind in third was Andre Ventura, a newly arrived right-wing populist whose 12% was a stunning development.

Four other candidates ran for head of state.

The turnout was just shy of 40%—significantly lower than in recent elections and apparently confirming concerns that some people would stay away for fear of becoming infected with COVID-19. Political leaders said that when the pandemic began to worsen there was no longer enough time to change the Portuguese Constitution to allow the election’s postponement.