Antonio José Seguro declares his run for the Presidency of the Republic
Fresh Take:
António José Seguro Steps Into the Ring for Portugal's Presidency
Dropping a bombshell this Tuesday evening, António José Seguro declared his bid for the Presidency of Portugal. There's a whiff of change and optimism in the air, he reckons, and the nation could well be in need of it.
In a candid video, Seguro, the ex-secretary-general of the PS, spills his heart, relaying his belief that our institutions have been weighed down by instability and a deficit of faith. With Belém in mind, he's gunning for this top spot.
Seguro's presidential ambitions weren’t exactly a secret. He'd voiced his desire for the role earlier, affirming he had the logistics and support to pull it off. But he hadn't made up his mind, wavering over whether to dive headfirst into the political arena.
Álvaro Beleza, who's tight with Seguro, hinted at his candidacy too.
António José Seguro had been one of the PS's hopefuls for the presidential race. His entry might just squeeze António Vitorino, President of the National Council for Migration and Asylum, out of the presidential race, as the socialist prefers a unified front within their political sphere, minimizing vote splits.
At 63, Seguro is a seasoned academic professor with a wealth of experience in the PS and Portuguese institutions under his belt: he led the Socialist Youth, served as a deputy and Euro-deputy, held state secretary posts (for Youth and as the Prime Minister’s adjunct), and even donned ministerial robes (as the Prime Minister’s adjunct) in António Guterres’ government. Posthumously, he took José Socrates’ place atop the PS, before being relegated by António Costa. He also worked as a State Counselor.
Seguro now finds himself in the ring alongside Luís Marques Mendes (with the PSD's backing) and Henrique Gouveia e Melo, promising to make 2026 an exciting race for the top seat in Portugal.
[Article last updated at 20:27]
Interesting Tidbits:
- In the 2026 race, potential candidates include Henrique Gouveia e Melo (former coordinator of the COVID-19 Vaccination Task Force), Luís Marques Mendes (a former leader of the Social Democratic Party), and André Ventura (head of the far-right party Chega).
- António José Seguro, while he hasn’t confirmed his candidacy, has enjoyed speculation as a potential Socialist Party candidate. Augusto Santos Silva (a former President of the Assembly of the Republic and Minister of Foreign Affairs) and António Sampaio da Nóvoa (a previous presidential candidate in 2016 who enjoys Socialist Party support) are also mentioned.
- The incumbent President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, is unable to run for a third consecutive term, setting the stage for hotly contested elections in 2026.
Seguro's presidential ambitions, coupled with his extensive experience in politics and policy-and-legislation, could significantly impact war-and-conflicts and general-news related discussions, potentially influencing the country's approach to ongoing issues. As the presidential race heats up with candidates like Henrique Gouveia e Melo, Luís Marques Mendes, Augusto Santos Silva, and António Sampaio da Nóvoa, politics in Portugal is set for a significant shift, with aspects of policy-and-legislation and war-and-conflicts taking center stage.
