Antonio José Seguro of Portugal’s center-left Socialist Party has won the country’s presidential election, defeating far-right candidate André Ventura of the Chega party in a decisive second-round vote held on Sunday.

With 99 percent of ballots counted, Seguro secured 66.7 percent of the vote, comfortably ahead of Ventura, who garnered 33.3 percent, according to official results released by Portugal’s electoral authorities. The outcome grants Seguro a five-year presidential mandate, marking a significant setback for the country’s growing far-right movement.

The 63-year-old president-elect will succeed Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the conservative incumbent whose second term comes to an end after a decade in office. Although the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, the office carries important constitutional powers, including the authority to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call early elections during periods of political deadlock.

Preliminary data from the Interior Ministry indicated a higher-than-expected voter turnout, reflecting the polarized nature of the contest and widespread concern over the rise of populist politics in Portugal. Analysts say the election was widely viewed as a referendum on whether Chega’s nationalist and anti-establishment rhetoric could translate into control of one of the country’s most symbolically powerful institutions.

Seguro’s victory reinforces Portugal’s long-standing resistance to far-right dominance at the national level, despite Chega’s growing presence in parliament and municipal politics over recent years.

In his victory address, Seguro pledged to serve as a unifying figure, emphasizing democratic values, social cohesion, and respect for Portugal’s constitution. He is expected to formally take office in the coming weeks following certification of the final results.

Ventura, conceding defeat, said he would continue pushing for what he described as a political “transformation” of Portugal.

“I tried to show there’s a different way … that we needed a different kind of president,” Ventura told reporters, vowing to keep mobilizing supporters and strengthening Chega’s influence ahead of future parliamentary contests.

Seguro, a former party leader and veteran lawmaker, ran on a platform centered on democratic stability, institutional balance, and safeguarding Portugal’s social model. His election is expected to ensure continuity in relations between the presidency and the current government, while maintaining Portugal’s pro-European Union orientation.

Political observers note that while the presidency does not wield executive power, Seguro’s ability to veto laws or intervene during political crises could play a key role amid ongoing debates over economic reform, immigration, and social policy.

The result is being closely watched across Europe, where traditional parties are increasingly confronting far-right challengers at the ballot box. (ILKHA)