Socialist Seguro wins Portuguese presidency, defeats far-right rival

2026-02-09 - 09:45

António José Seguro has been elected the new president of Portugal following a second-round vote on Sunday. The Socialist Party candidate defeated his far-right opponent, André Ventura, by a significant margin, according to official results from the Portuguese National Electoral Commission. The 63-year-old will succeed Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who was constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term. A decisive victory and political reactions Seguro captured 66.2% of the vote, while Ventura, leader of the Chega party, received 33.8%. In brief remarks, the president-elect stated, “My aim is to serve the country.” Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, whose center-right Social Democratic Party suffered a defeat, acknowledged the result and pledged his minority government would continue its work, emphasizing a public desire for stability. Ventura conceded defeat and wished Seguro well. The election context and turnout The presidential election in Portugal was only the second in the nation's democratic history to require a runoff, which occurred despite a state of emergency declared due to severe weather. Voter turnout was approximately 51%. In the first round held in January, Seguro led with 31% of the vote, with Ventura following at 23%. The ruling PSD’s own candidate finished a distant fifth, failing to qualify for the runoff. Portugal's political landscape Seguro’s victory returns the presidency to Socialist control after a decade. He is a former deputy prime minister and past leader of the Socialist Party. The election occurs amid ongoing debates in Portugal over social inequality, housing access, and recent labor reforms. The country's economic growth has been modest and it recently experienced a major general strike, highlighting social tensions under the current center-right administration.