Portugal 2026 Presidential Election Goes to a Runoff
The 2026 Portuguese presidential election will go to a second round (runoff) on 8 February 2026, according to official partial results and major media outlets, including SIC Notícias.
This is only the second runoff in Portugal’s democratic history, the first having taken place in 1986.
First Round Recap (18 January 2026)
With 99.2% of votes counted, results show that no candidate reached the absolute majority (over 50%) required to win in the first round.
Main results:
-
António José Seguro
(supported by Partido Socialista – PS)
➜ ~31.11% of the vote (clear first place) -
André Ventura
(leader of Chega)
➜ ~23.52% (second place)
Other leading candidates:
-
João Cotrim de Figueiredo (Iniciativa Liberal): ~16%
-
Henrique Gouveia e Melo (Independent): ~12.32%
-
Luís Marques Mendes (PSD-supported): ~11.30%
Voter participation is estimated between 59.4% and 64.4%, a significant increase compared to 2021, when turnout was around 45%. This indicates renewed voter engagement despite a crowded field.
Runoff Election — 8 February 2026
Because no candidate won outright, the top two advance to the runoff:
-
António José Seguro (PS, center-left)
-
André Ventura (Chega, far-right)
Key dates:
-
Campaign period: 27 January – 6 February
-
Advance voting (mobility): Vote on 1 February
-
Overseas voting: 27–29 January
-
Final results certification: By the Constitutional Court, starting 26 January
Public campaign funding totals about €4.18 million for the first round, with an additional ~€1.045 million allocated for the runoff.
Political Reactions
-
PSD (led by PM Luís Montenegro): Neutral — no endorsement for either candidate
-
Left-wing parties (BE, PCP): Urged voters to back Seguro to block the far right
-
André Ventura: Claimed Chega now leads the “non-socialist right” and appealed for PSD and IL voters
-
João Cotrim de Figueiredo (IL): No runoff recommendation
-
Henrique Gouveia e Melo: Accepted results, no endorsement. ਗ੍ਰੀਨ ਲੇਨ ਪੁਰਤਗਾਲ: 20 ਦਿਨਾਂ ’ਚ ਕੰਮ ਦਾ ਵੀਜ਼ਾ
The runoff pits a mainstream Socialist candidate against a polarising far-right leader, marking a key test for Portugal’s political centre.
While analysts expect Seguro to win due to Ventura’s high rejection rate (over 60%), the result will reflect how much space the far right now occupies in Portuguese politics.
