In a significant victory, António José Seguro, representing the center-left political spectrum, has been elected as the new President of Portugal. With nearly all votes counted, he secured 66% in the runoff election, surpassing his far-right opponent André Ventura of the Chega party, who garnered 34%. This election was conducted under challenging circumstances as the country dealt with Storm Marta, which had lethal consequences just days prior to the vote.

Polls conducted at voting stations indicated that Seguro was expected to perform even better, with initial forecasts suggesting he could receive up to 70% of the votes. However, the unforeseen impact of Storm Marta, which caused chaos and led to the postponement of voting in several districts for approximately a week, impacted around 37,000 voters—a number that represents about 0.3% of the electorate. Despite these disruptions, news reports indicate that this additional voting would not ultimately affect the final outcome of the election.

Seguro’s win marks a notable moment in Portuguese politics, particularly in light of recent shifts toward extreme right parties in various parts of Europe. His presidency is anticipated to drive the country towards more progressive policies, in stark contrast to the right-wing stance represented by Ventura. The election results suggest a continued preference for stability and centrist governance among the Portuguese electorate in tumultuous times.