With 95 p.c of votes counted, 63-year-old Antonio Jose Seguro is on 66 p.c.
Revealed On 8 Feb 2026
Antonio Jose Seguro of the centre-left Socialist Social gathering has secured a landslide victory and a five-year time period as Portugal’s president in a run-off vote, beating his far-right, anti-establishment rival, Andre Ventura, in line with partial outcomes.
With 95 p.c of votes counted, 63-year-old Seguro has garnered 66 p.c. Ventura trailed at 34 p.c, nonetheless more likely to safe a a lot stronger consequence than the 22.8 p.c his anti-immigration Chega occasion achieved in final yr’s basic election. Ballots in giant cities comparable to Lisbon and Porto are counted in the direction of the top.
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Two exit polls have positioned Seguro within the 67-73 p.c vary, and Ventura at 27-33 p.c.
A succession of storms in current days has failed to discourage voters, with turnout at about the identical stage as within the first spherical on January 18, though three municipal councils in southern and central Portugal needed to postpone voting by per week on account of floods. The postponement affected some 37,000 registered voters, or about 0.3 p.c of the entire, and is unlikely to affect the general consequence.
Portugal’s presidency is a largely ceremonial position, nevertheless it holds some key powers, together with the flexibility to dissolve parliament below sure circumstances.
Ventura, 43, who had trailed Seguro in opinion polls, had argued that the federal government’s response to the fierce gales and floods was “ineffective” and known as for your entire election to be postponed.
Nevertheless, the authorities rejected the demand.
Seguro, throughout his final marketing campaign rally on Friday, accused Ventura of “doing every thing to maintain the Portuguese from turning out to vote”.
Regardless of his loss on Sunday, Ventura, a charismatic former tv sports activities commentator, can now boast elevated assist, reflecting the rising affect of the far proper in Portugal and far of Europe. He’s additionally the primary extreme-right candidate to make it by to a run-off vote in Portugal.
In the meantime, Seguro has solid himself because the candidate of a “fashionable and average” left, who can actively mediate to avert political crises and defend democratic values. He acquired backing from distinguished conservatives after the primary spherical amid considerations over what many see as Ventura’s populist, hardline tendencies.
However Prime Minister Luis Montenegro – whose minority centre-right authorities has to depend on assist from both the Socialists or the far proper to get laws by parliament – declined to endorse both candidate within the second spherical.
Whereas the position is basically ceremonial, the pinnacle of state has the facility to dissolve parliament and name early elections.
The brand new president will succeed outgoing conservative Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in early March.
