António José Seguro, a moderate socialist, has secured a significant landslide victory in Portugal’s presidential runoff vote, earning a five-year term. He decisively defeated his far-right, anti-establishment rival, André Ventura, with exit polls and partial results showing Seguro garnering approximately 64% to 66% of the votes, while Ventura trailed with 34% to 36%. This election occurred despite a succession of storms, including Storm Leonardo, which lashed the country in recent days, causing floods and necessitating the postponement of voting in three municipal councils. However, turnout remained consistent with the first round, and the postponements, affecting only about 0.3% of registered voters, were deemed unlikely to influence the overall result.

Seguro, aged 63, expressed his pride and moved appreciation for the Portuguese people's commitment to freedom, democracy, and the nation's future. He positioned himself as a candidate of the “modern and moderate” left, aiming to actively mediate political crises and uphold democratic values. His moderate stance and commitment to cooperating with Portugal’s centre-right minority government, while repudiating Ventura's anti-establishment and anti-immigrant rhetoric, garnered him broad support. Notably, prominent conservatives and thousands of self-declared "non-socialists," including former conservative ministers, publicly backed Seguro after the first round, driven by concerns over Ventura’s populist and authoritarian tendencies.

Despite his loss, 43-year-old Ventura, a charismatic former TV sports commentator and football pundit, achieved a stronger result than his anti-immigration Chega (Enough) party’s performance in last year's general election, where it secured 22.8%. Ventura's 34%-36% share in the runoff reflects the increasing influence of the far right in Portugal and across Europe. He viewed the election as defining the leadership of the right, despite the political system uniting against him. Ventura, known for his eloquent and theatrical style, advocated a combative stance, frequently targeting what he termed excessive immigration. His campaign included controversial billboards with messages like “This isn’t Bangladesh” and “Immigrants shouldn’t be allowed to live on welfare,” reflecting his "Portugal is ours" ideology. Founded less than seven years ago in 2019, Chega rapidly ascended to become the second-largest parliamentary force last year.

The Portuguese presidency, while largely ceremonial and traditionally a figurehead role that mediates disputes above the political fray, holds several important powers. The president is an influential voice with the ability to veto legislation from parliament, though this veto can be overturned. Crucially, the head of state possesses what is termed an “atomic bomb”—the power to dissolve parliament and call early elections under certain circumstances. This power is particularly significant given Portugal's recent political instability, including three general elections in three years. Seguro will succeed the centre-right president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who has served his two five-year term limit, with steadying the ship being a key challenge for the new president. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, despite having previously denounced Ventura as "xenophobic, racist and demagogic," chose to remain neutral in the presidential runoff, declining to endorse either candidate.