Right-wing, anti-immigration Chega leader André Ventura will face socialist candidate António José Seguro in the run-off of Portugal’s presidential election, according to official results. With more than 93 per cent of the vote counted, Seguro secured a surprise first-round victory with around 30 per cent, while Ventura came in second with 24.46 per cent.
Centrist-right João Cotrim de Figueiredo placed third with 15.2 per cent, while Social Democratic Party (PPD)-led Democratic Alliance (AD) candidate Luís Marques Mendes finished fourth with around 12.23 per cent. Voter turnout stood at around 55 per cent—more than 10 percentage points higher than in 2021.
‘It looks like we’re going to the second round!’ Ventura wrote on X on Sunday night. Ventura and his party’s rise appears increasingly unstoppable in Portuguese politics, reflecting widespread frustration with political instability and the traditional party system. Last year, Chega became the largest opposition party in parliament, surpassing the Socialist Party.
Compared to the 2021 presidential election, Ventura increased his share of the vote by more than 10 percentage points, almost doubling it. Chega’s campaign focused on a strong anti-immigration and anti-establishment platform, which appears to have resonated with large segments of the Portuguese electorate.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who co-founded the Patriots for Europe (PfE) European political group—of which Chega is a member—welcomed the results, stating that ‘the Portuguese people have sent a clear message: patriots across Europe are on the rise.’
While reaching the run-off is another major breakthrough in Chega’s history, Ventura now faces a difficult challenge against Seguro. According to analysts and pollsters, the right-wing leader’s strong support among his base is paired with high rejection rates among the wider electorate. This could mean that many voters who do not necessarily support Seguro may still vote for him in a head-to-head contest against Ventura, making the Chega leader an underdog in the second round.
The run-off will be held on Sunday, 8 February.
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