Elections in Portugal

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By Johnny Merolla

Life News Today Reporter

Portugal elected António José Seguro as its next president on Sunday, February 8, in the second round of the presidential elections. Seguro won over André Ventura with a wide advantage, obtaining the support of close to two-thirds of the electorate, according to the official count. The second round was necessary after none of the candidates exceeded the threshold required to win directly in the first round, which activated the ballot mechanism provided for by Portuguese law.

The vote was organized and supervised by the National Commission of Elections (CNE), the state body responsible for ensuring the legality and transparency of the electoral process. Voting was carried out in person in centers authorized throughout the national territory, including schools and public buildings. After the polls closed, the official count began and the results were progressively released as the count progressed. The electoral law establishes that to be elected president in the first round a candidate must obtain more than 50 percent of the valid votes. When that percentage is not reached, the two candidates with the most votes compete in a second round, as happened in this election.

Portugal functions as a democratic republic with a semi-presidential system. The prime minister heads the government and directs the day-to-day administration, while the president exercises relevant institutional functions defined by the Constitution. Its powers include the enactment or veto of laws approved by Parliament, the possibility of requesting the constitutional revision of regulations and the power to dissolve the Assembly of the Republic in exceptional circumstances provided for by law. Although the president does not directly govern the day-to-day life of the country, his role can influence moments of political deadlock or institutional crisis.

Portugal's current democratic structure was consolidated after the Carnation Revolution of 1974, which put an end to the authoritarian regime of the Estado Novo. Since then, the country has held free and competitive elections, with political alternation and institutional stability. In recent decades, Portugal has gone through periods of economic growth, fiscal adjustments stemming from the European financial crisis, and recurring debates on employment, immigration, security, and public services. These issues have influenced the political climate and the configuration of the forces represented in Parliament.

António José Seguro reached the second round with a career linked to the Socialist Party and a campaign focused on the defence of democratic institutions, political stability and dialogue between parliamentary forces. During the electoral process, he maintained that the Presidency must act as a guarantor of constitutional balance and represent all citizens, regardless of their political orientation. His proposal emphasized institutional continuity and respect for established democratic mechanisms.

For his part, André Ventura, leader of the Chega party, developed a campaign with a more confrontational discourse and proposals aimed at hardening positions on immigration, security and public order. The contest thus confronted two different visions on the role of the Presidency and the political direction of the country. While Seguro highlighted institutional moderation and dialogue, Ventura proposed a more critical approach to the traditional political system.

The result of the second round consolidated the advantage obtained by Seguro over its rival and defined the succession in the head of state. After the official results were known, Ventura conceded defeat and confirmed that he will continue his political activity from the opposition. The public recognition of the result took place within the scheduled deadlines and without incidents reported during election day.

Seguro will formally assume the presidency in March, succeeding Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The new president will begin his term in a plural political scenario, with a Parliament made up of various forces and with active debates on the economy, the management of public services and migration policies. Although the Presidency does not direct economic policy or daily government action, its ability to veto laws, call early elections or mediate in institutional conflicts gives it a relevant role in the stability of the system.

Portugal is a country in southwestern Europe located on the Iberian Peninsula, with a land border with Spain and an extensive coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. Its capital is Lisbon and its territory also includes the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira. The country has been part of the European Union since 1986 and uses the euro as its official currency, factors that directly influence its economic policy and regional integration.

With a population of close to 11 million, Portugal combines dense urban areas on the coast with less populated inland regions, and maintains an economy based mainly on the service sector, trade, industrial activity and tourism. In this context, the presidential election defines the head of state within an institutional system that operates in coordination with Parliament and the government.