The people have spoken, and a decision has been made. On 8 February 2026, the Portuguese people chose António José Seguro, the socialist candidate, to serve as President of the Portuguese Republic.

Elected with a historic number of votes, Seguro surpassed his socialist predecessor, Mário Soares, who previously held the record, garnering approximately 67% of the vote, or about 3.48 million votes.

Considering the national abstention rate, which, according to the SIC Notícias website, was around 41%, António José Seguro's victory was almost unanimous, except in three municipalities: Elvas, in the Portalegre district, and São Vicente, in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

In the Faro district, the abstention rate was 45.21%, and Seguro won with 56% of the vote, a significant difference from his performance in Faro in the first round, when he lost to André Ventura (33%) with 26% of the vote.

In Lisbon alone, the elected President obtained 767,792 votes, representing 70%, compared to his opponent, André Ventura, who garnered 29%. Compared to Faro, abstention in Lisbon was lower, at 39%.

In Porto, the numbers were quite similar to those of the Lisbon district, except for a few tenths, and abstention was slightly lower, at 37%.

During election night, several party leaders gave speeches and demonstrated their support for António José Seguro, as did the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who congratulated him on the social network X, through the following message:

“Congratulations, António José Seguro, on your election as President of the Republic. Portuguese citizens made their voices heard and, in the face of the devastation caused by the storms, demonstrated remarkable democratic resilience.”

It is important to note that due to the storms that have devastated the national territory, three municipalities decided to postpone their elections, namely Golegã, Arruda, and Alcácer do Sal, and are therefore in a state of emergency.

André Ventura reaction

André Ventura acknowledged his defeat and congratulated the elected candidate during his speech.

“When the people speak, the people are sovereign. If the people choose António José Seguro, he will be President. And I hope he will be a good President, because the country needs him.” “Regardless of our being adversaries in this second round, António José Seguro's success leading Portugal will be everyone's success, and I had the opportunity to convey that to him,” he said.

In his speech, Seguro addressed most of his remarks to the Portuguese people, calling them the best people in the world. Excellent, with enormous civic responsibility and an attachment to the values ​​of democracy.”

He also demonstrated openness to working side by side with André Ventura, stating: "From tonight onwards, we are no longer adversaries, and we now share the duty to work for a more developed and fairer Portugal."

"It will not be because of me that it (democracy) will be interrupted. I promised loyalty and institutional cooperation with the Government. I will keep my word. I will never be a counter-power, but I will be a President demanding solutions and results," concluded the President-elect.

António José Seguro will take office as President of the Republic on 9 March, 2026.