Socialist Seguro wins Portuguese presidential run-off but right-wing Ventura takes one-third of votes

Centre-left candidate António José Seguro has been elected President of Portugal in a decisive second-round victory

He secured approximately two-thirds of the vote, returning a Socialist-backed figure to the Belém Palace after two decades.

Official results, with 99 per cent of votes counted, show Seguro, a former Socialist Party (PS) leader, winning just over 66.8 per cent against 33.2 per cent for his right-wing rival André Ventura, leader of the populist Chega party.

The outcome, confirmed by Portugal’s National Electoral Commission and reported across multiple outlets, marks the most lopsided presidential run-off in recent memory and the highest-ever vote total for any candidate in Portuguese democratic history.

Seguro’s broad appeal stemmed from cross-party endorsements.

After topping the first round with around 31 per cent, he received backing from centrist and establishment figures determined to block a Chega victory.

Ventura, who advanced from 23.5 per cent in the first round, campaigned on anti-immigration, anti-establishment themes that have propelled Chega from being formed in 2019 to the second-largest parliamentary force.

While Seguro’s win is framed as a clear repudiation of Ventura’s bid for the largely ceremonial but symbolically powerful presidency, the result also highlights Chega’s growing strength.

The party’s 33 per cent share in the run-off represents its best national result to date and signals that Portugal is in line with the rest of the West where right-wing populism continues to grow in popularity.

Analysts note that Ventura’s showing, exceeding 1.5 million votes, cements Chega as a durable force on the Right, even as it failed to capture the head of state.

Ventura conceded defeat yesterday evening, wishing Seguro a successful term while framing the outcome as a moral victory for his movement.

“We exceeded AD [Democratic Alliance] with 33.2 per cent in the last elections. I think the message of the Portuguese is clear. We lead the Right in Portugal. We lead the right-wing space in Portugal and we will soon govern this country,” he proclaimed.

In his victory speech, Seguro pledged to act as a unifying, “demanding but never counter-power” President, emphasising moderation and institutional stability.

Seguro promised to be the President of all Portuguese and of his opponent. “From tonight we are no longer adversaries and we now have the shared duty to work for a more developed and fairer Portugal,” he said.

He will take office on March 9.

The presidential role, while limited in executive authority, includes veto powers, the ability to dissolve parliament and significant moral influence; all factors that made the contest unusually high-stakes amid ongoing political fragmentation following the 2025 general election.

VIDEO: Why has Chega grown so fast? How has immigration reshaped Portuguese politics? What would a Ventura defeat or breakthrough mean for Europe?@ThatAlexWoman and @JustinStares break down the second round of Portugal’s presidential election. https://t.co/m3OLY7Gbyo

— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) February 5, 2026