Presidential aspirant, Ventura, sets September 15th as the date for declaring his candidacy
In the upcoming presidential election scheduled for January 2026, a notable contender has emerged following the withdrawal of António Sampaio da Nóvoa. Catarina Martins, the former coordinator of the Left Bloc and current MEP, has announced her candidacy [1]. Sampaio da Nóvoa, who finished as runner-up in 2016, stepped down citing difficulties in mounting a broad and pluralist campaign.
Martins has criticized the political situation in Portugal, stating that it is trapped between an abandoning present and an authoritarian future [1]. Other potential candidates for the 2026 election, though not all officially confirmed in the latest reports, include prominent figures such as Leonor Beleza, Luís Filipe Menezes, Mário Centeno, Marisa Matias, Paulo Raimundo, and Pedro Passos Coelho [1][2].
The far-right Chega party, led by André Ventura, is expected to announce its candidate in September 2025, but the identity of the candidate remains undisclosed as of mid-August [1][2].
In the current political context, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is actively engaged in resolving government instability, following the fall of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's government. This period of political instability may influence the dynamics of the presidential race [5].
The veto of the Foreigners Law by President Rebelo de Sousa was issued after the Constitutional Court announced the unconstitutionality of five norms. Other names being mentioned for the Belém elections include João Cotrim Figueiredo, Sampaio da Nóvoa, and Rui Moreira. However, Rui Moreira is yet to announce his decision, stating he will do so in September [1][2][5].
Four candidates have been identified for the Belém elections: Luís Marques Mendes, António José Seguro, Henrique Gouveia e Melo, and António Filipe [1]. Meanwhile, Mariana Leitão, from the Liberal Initiative, ran for Belém but withdrew to contest her party's leadership [1].
As the election approaches, the political landscape in Portugal continues to evolve, with more candidates expected to announce their intentions in the coming months. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
References: [1] [Portuguese News Source 1] [2] [Portuguese News Source 2] [5] [Portuguese News Source 5]
What is the current political standpoint of Catarina Martins regarding the future of Portugal, and what other potential candidates for the 2026 presidential election have emerged, their identities mentioned albeit not all officially confirmed yet? Catarina Martins has criticized the political situation in Portugal as being trapped between an abandoning present and an authoritarian future, and other potential candidates for the 2026 election include Leonor Beleza, Luís Filipe Menezes, Mário Centeno, Marisa Matias, Paulo Raimundo, and Pedro Passos Coelho.
