Socialist António José Seguro was elected President of Portugal today, in a second-round runoff election, winning about 66–67% of the vote against far-right populist Chega candidate André Ventura with about 33–34% – according to near-final ballots counted.
The national tally is not yet fully closed, as some precincts and consular votes remain to be counted. In the first round, Seguro led across most of the country, including the Azores, while Ventura dominated Madeira and also performed strongly among overseas voters.
Reacting to early projections, Seguro emphazised the democratic message of the result, stating that “the Portuguese people… demonstrated a huge attachment to democracy,” as he positioned his presidency as one aimed at stability and mediation across the political spectrum.
Ventura conceded defeat while underscoring his campaign’s momentum, telling reporters he had sought “to present an alternative… to change the country,” but ultimately did not achieve victory despite gains compared with previous contests. His defeat did not prevent him from claiming leadership of the right in Portugal, a discourse he had been rehearsing during the election campaign.
António José Seguro was elected with the highest number of votes cast in 50 years of democracy, surpassing Mário Soares (1986-1988), who won 3,459,521 votes in the 1991 election. Other presidents include António Ramalho Eanes (1976-1986), Jorge Sampaio (1996-2006), Cavaco Silva (2006-2016) and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (2016-2026).
António José Seguro, 64, born in Penamacor, Beira Interior Region, is a Portuguese politician whose political career spanned from local government to national leadership and European institutions. He holds a degree in International Relations from the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL). He became politically active at a young age through the Socialist Party youth structures, eventually serving as Secretary-General of the Socialist Youth.
Seguro entered the Assembleia da República in the 1990s and went on to serve multiple legislative terms, gaining prominence in parliamentary affairs before moving to the European stage as a Member of the European Parliament. There, he worked on institutional reform and citizenship initiatives, strengthening his credentials in diplomacy and European governance. Returning to domestic politics, he led the Socialist Party from 2011 to 2014.
After stepping back from party leadership, Seguro remained active in public life through academic, civic, and international engagement, maintaining a profile as a centrist figure committed to dialogue across ideological lines. His presidential candidacy drew on that reputation, emphasizing constitutional stability, democratic values, and mediation among political actors. His election to the presidency represents the culmination of decades of public service shaped by both national and European political experience.
Seguro officially announced his candidacy in mid-June 2025, and the Socialist Party (PS) only formally approved its support for the candidate in October, after the municipal elections. His victory is remarkable given that his entry into the presidential race was met with little enthusiasm, even within his own political camp.
PAJ/Staff/This developing story will be updated
