Portugal’s socialist candidate won the first round of the presidential election and will face the national-conservative candidate in the second round, results showed on Sunday, January 18th.
With votes from 99% of constituencies counted, Socialist António José Seguro was leading with 31.1% of the vote, while right-wing contender and leader of the Chega party André Ventura came in second with 23.4%.
Ventura and Seguro will face off on February 8 to decide who succeeds incumbent Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
This will be the first time a right-wing candidate has made it to the second round of the presidential race.
For decades, the country remained largely untouched by the surge of populist or identity-based movements that gained ground in other European Union member states.
Chega’s emergence as the leading force in voting intentions reflects a loss of confidence in the traditional parties and a growing demand for clear answers on issues that for years were sidelined or addressed only superficially.
During the campaign, Seguro had argued that he was the only one capable of defeating Ventura’s “extremism” and had called on “all democrats” to unite behind him.
While the role of president is largely ceremonial, in times of crisis the incumbent can dissolve parliament, call elections, or dismiss a prime minister.
Portugal’s centre-right prime minister, Luís Montenegro, said he would not be giving any advice on who to vote for in the second round.
His minority government already relies on Chega for support to implement some of its policies.
Ventura called on other parties on the right not to stand in his way if he makes it to the second round.