Portugal — António José Seguro has been elected as the new President of the Republic of Portugal following the second round of the presidential election held on Sunday.
Seguro secured a clear majority of the vote, defeating his opponent André Ventura in a runoff election that drew strong national and international attention.
Election Held Amid Severe Weather
The vote took place while Portugal was facing severe weather, including heavy rain and flooding in several regions. Despite the difficult conditions, polling stations remained open across the country and voter turnout was reported as steady throughout the day.
By midday, turnout was already higher than in the first round, according to official figures.
A New Chapter for Portugal
António José Seguro, a former Socialist Party leader, will now take over the presidency, a role that includes representing the country internationally, overseeing the democratic process, and holding powers such as vetoing legislation and dissolving parliament in specific circumstances.
In his first remarks after the result, Seguro called for unity, stability, and cooperation, stressing the importance of bringing the country together during a challenging period marked by extreme weather and social concerns.
Seguro will succeed the outgoing president in the coming weeks following the formal confirmation of results and the official inauguration ceremony.
The presidential election marks a significant moment in Portuguese politics, with voters choosing continuity and moderation at a time when the country faces both political and environmental challenges.
António José Seguro will be the new President of the Republic, according to projections by television stations.
SIC indicates that Seguro will have between 67% and 71.4%, compared to Ventura’s 28.6% to 33%.
The CNN/TVI projection indicates that António José Seguro has between 67% and 71.4%, while André Ventura is at 28.6% to 33%.
The Católica projection for RTP indicates a range between 68 and 73% for Seguro, while Ventura appears with 27 to 32/AV – 27 – 32
Intercampus projections for CMTV and Now indicate a victory for António José Seguro with 66.8% to 71.8%, while André Ventura remains in the range of 28.2%-33.2%.
Projections indicate that Seguro will be the next President of the Republic by a wide margin.
45.5% of voters had cast their ballots by 4:00 PM, the same percentage as in the first round.
Data from the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Internal Administration indicates that by 4:00 PM, 45.50% of registered voters had cast their ballots. This is equivalent to the same voter turnout as in the first round of the Presidential elections on January 18th, when it was 45.51%, representing a decrease of 0.01 percentage points.
By noon, voter turnout reached 22.35%, higher than in the first round. Both Seguro and Ventura have already voted.
11 million voters
There are 11 million registered voters. In 11 presidential elections since April 25, 1974, this is only the second time the election of the head of state has been decided in a second round. The last time this occurred was in 1986, in the contest between Diogo Freitas do Amaral and Mário Soares
