António José Seguro leadja a szavazatát – Fotó: Adri Salido / Anadolu / AFP
António José Seguro has been elected Portugal’s next president, according to exit polls released Sunday, February 8, 2026. The result marks a significant moment for the country as it navigates a shifting political landscape and follows the two-term presidency of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Seguro, representing the Socialist Party, secured between 67% and 73% of the vote, defeating André Ventura, the leader of the far-right Chega party. The outcome follows a first round of voting on January 18, 2026, where Seguro took the lead with 31.1% of the vote, while Ventura garnered 23.52%, prompting the demand for a runoff election.
The 63-year-old politician has a long history within the Portuguese Socialist movement, having served as a youth leader in the 1990s, a minister under Prime Minister António Guterres between 2001 and 2022, and as the Socialist Party’s secretary-general from 2011 to 2014.
This election is particularly noteworthy as it represents a potential shift in Portuguese politics, with Ventura’s Chega party gaining prominence as the largest opposition force in parliament. Euronews reports that the result signals a rejection of the far-right’s growing influence in the country.
More than 11 million eligible voters participated in the election, both within Portugal and abroad. The incoming president will succeed the outgoing president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who was ineligible for re-election after serving the maximum two terms.
