Feb 8 • 22:56 UTC 🇸🇪 Sweden SVT Nyheter

Victory for the centrist candidate Seguro in Portugal's presidential election

Centrist candidate Seguro won the Portuguese presidential election with 66% of the vote, defeating André Ventura.

As of 95% of the votes counted, centrist candidate Seguro secured an impressive 66% of the vote, positioning him against far-right contender André Ventura who garnered 34%. The 63-year-old Seguro is viewed as a stabilizing force against the rising extreme right in Portugal and enjoyed cross-party support from politicians across the political spectrum. The result underscores his appeal as a unifying figure in an increasingly polarized political landscape.

Ventura, the leader of the far-right party Chega, finished second, showcasing the rapid ascent of his party, which was established only in 2019. Despite losing, Ventura's strong performance indicates a growing base for his party, which has often been criticized for its xenophobic and racist rhetoric. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, who condemned Ventura's views, now faces the challenge of navigating a political environment with increasing far-right influence, as the political discourse in Portugal continues to evolve.

The election on Sunday constituted the decisive second round of voting in the five-year mandate for the presidency, following a first round in January where eleven candidates vied for the position. With approximately eleven million eligible voters both inside and outside of Portugal, the election outcome has significant implications for the political dynamics in the country, highlighting the challenges presented by the rise of populist movements amid traditional political frameworks. The president's role in Portugal is primarily ceremonial, yet it symbolizes the direction in which the country may be headed politically and socially.

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