Centre-left candidate Antonio José Seguro secured a decisive victory over far-right rival André Ventura in Portugal’s presidential election on Sunday, in a run-off held amid the aftermath of devastating storms.
With more than 99 per cent of ballots counted, Seguro had won 66.8 per cent of the vote to Ventura’s 33.2 per cent, ensuring that the 63-year-old Socialist candidate will succeed conservative Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa as president.
The result was swiftly welcomed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron. Von der Leyen praised the vote as a demonstration that Portugal’s support for “shared European values” remains strong, while Macron said he looked forward to reinforcing ties between the two countries.
Storm-hit campaign
The election campaign had been severely disrupted by two weeks of storms and strong gales, which killed at least seven people and caused an estimated €4 billion ($4.7 billion) in damage. Around 20 of the worst-affected constituencies postponed voting by a week, but the election proceeded for nearly all of Portugal’s 11 million eligible voters, including citizens abroad.
“The winners tonight are the Portuguese people and democracy,” said the president-elect, pledging to be a leader for “all Portuguese”.
Ventura conceded defeat but noted that his party had achieved “the best result in its history”. “We lead the right in Portugal, and we will soon govern this country,” he told supporters.
Ventura, 43, criticised the government’s handling of the storms and unsuccessfully sought a nationwide postponement of the election. He became the first far-right candidate in Portugal to reach a run-off vote.
Seguro’s political comeback
Seguro is a veteran politician and former Socialist party leader. He began his career in the party’s youth wing but was pushed out as secretary-general in 2014 by future prime minister António Costa, now president of the European Council.
Despite being largely out of the public eye for the past decade, Seguro maintained his commitment to a “modern and moderate left”. He launched his presidential campaign without the initial backing of the Socialist Party leadership, though most eventually supported him.
He gradually climbed in the polls, with Wednesday exit polls giving him 67 per cent in the run-off, closely matching Sunday’s outcome. Seguro’s team had expressed concern that storm-related disruptions and voter complacency could hurt turnout.
Casting his vote in Caldas de Rainha, where he resides, Seguro urged citizens, “Come and vote. Make the most of this window of good weather.”
Far-right surge
In the first round in January, Seguro led with 31.1 per cent, ahead of Ventura on 23.5 per cent, necessitating a second round. Seguro gained endorsements from a broad spectrum of political figures, while Prime Minister Luis Montenegro declined to support either candidate. His minority centre-right government relies on backing from either the Socialists or the far-right Chega party to pass legislation.
Ventura’s Chega, founded in 2019, emerged as the leading opposition force in May 2025’s general election. Political analysts view Ventura as seeking to “assert himself as the true leader of the Portuguese right”, according to Jose Santana Pereira, a political science professor.
In Portugal, the presidency is largely ceremonial, though the head of state can dissolve parliament and call early elections. Seguro is set to take office in early March.
