Portugal Presidential Election First Round Leads to Runoff Between Socialist and Far-Right Candidates

Portugal's presidential election first round saw Socialist Antonio Jose Seguro lead with about 30.6% of votes, followed by far-right candidate Andre Ventura at 24.2%, with a runoff scheduled for February 8. Ventura's far-right Chega party, founded seven years ago, has gained significant support, marking the first time such a candidate reached the second round. While the presidency is mostly ceremonial, it holds powers like dissolving parliament. Opinion polls indicated a close race, with Ventura facing high rejection rates and Seguro urging democratic unity against extremism.