Socialist Party (PS)

Rule Changes

Backed winning candidate; regains presidential influence

António José Seguro won Portugal's first-round presidential vote with 31.2% on January 18, 2026, while far-right Chega's André Ventura came second with 23.3%—forcing the country's first runoff in 40 years. Liberal João Cotrim de Figueiredo took third at 16%, Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo fourth at 15.7%, and Luís Marques Mendes fifth at 13.7%, amid record 11-candidate fragmentation and 61.5% turnout, the highest since 2006. Storm Kristin disrupted the February 8 runoff, postponing voting in flood-hit areas until February 15 for 36,852 voters.

Updated May 22