Portugal Elects Socialist António José Seguro as President
LISBON, Portugal – Centre-left Socialist candidate António José Seguro has won Portugal’s presidential election, defeating far-right rival André Ventura in Sunday’s runoff. Official results, with 99% of votes counted, show Seguro securing 66.7% of the vote, compared to Ventura’s 33.3%.
Seguro’s victory marks a significant moment, making him the first president from the socialist camp in Portugal in two decades. He secured a five-year term in Lisbon, positioning himself as a moderate who will cooperate with the country’s centre-right minority government. This approach directly contrasts with Ventura’s anti-establishment and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
In his victory speech, Seguro pledged loyalty and institutional cooperation with the government. “I promised loyalty and institutional cooperation with the government, and I will keep my word. I will never be a counter-power, but I will be a president who is demanding when it comes to solutions and results,” he stated.
The election was seen as a test of the depth of support for Ventura’s brash style, which has resonated with some voters and propelled his Chega (Enough) party to become the second-biggest in the Portuguese parliament. It also served as a gauge of the public appetite for the increasing shift to the right in Europe.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Seguro, stating on social media, “Portugal’s voice for our shared European values remains strong.”
While Ventura conceded defeat, he expressed optimism for the future of his party. Chega surpassed one and a half million votes for the first time, securing 33 percent of the vote – a higher percentage than the governing parties received in May. Ventura described his movement as “unstoppable” and predicted future success, stating, “I think the message from the Portuguese people was clear. We lead the right in Portugal, we lead the right-wing space in Portugal, and we will soon govern this country.”
Approximately eleven million eligible voters participated in the election, both in Portugal and abroad.
Seguro was widely favored to win the runoff against Ventura, whose Chega party was founded in 2019 and has since become the largest opposition force in parliament. In the first round of the election, Seguro received 31.1% of the vote, while Ventura garnered 23.52%.
The Portuguese presidency is largely a figurehead role, lacking executive authority. Traditionally, the head of state remains neutral, mediating disputes and easing tensions within the political landscape. However, the president holds considerable influence and possesses the power to veto legislation passed by parliament, although this veto can be overridden.
