Bloco de Esquerda Endorses António José Seguro for Portuguese Presidential Runoff

Bloco de Esquerda Backs Seguro in Presidential Runoff

The Portuguese political party Bloco de Esquerda (Left Bloc) has formally endorsed António José Seguro for the second round of the 2026 presidential elections. The party's decision, announced by its coordinator, José Manuel Pureza, calls on voters to support Seguro against the far-right candidate André Ventura. The runoff election is scheduled for February 8, 2026.

First Round Results Set Stage for Runoff

The endorsement comes after the first round of the presidential election on January 18, 2026, failed to produce an outright winner. António José Seguro, supported by the Socialist Party (PS), secured approximately 31% of the votes, placing him ahead of André Ventura, leader of the Chega party, who garnered around 23.5%. As no candidate achieved more than 50% of the vote, a second round between the top two contenders became necessary. This marks only the second time in Portugal's direct presidential election history that a runoff is required, the first being in 1986.

Left Bloc's Strategic Support

The Bloco de Esquerda's National Board approved the call to vote for Seguro, emphasizing the importance of consolidating support against the far-right. José Manuel Pureza stated that the party's stance is a clear choice between a democratic candidate and one representing the extreme right. The party also criticized other political forces, such as the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Liberal Initiative (IL), for not taking a definitive position in the runoff, arguing against any equidistance between the candidates. The BE's move aligns with a broader effort among left-wing parties, including Livre, to rally behind Seguro.

Seguro's Bid for Presidency

António José Seguro, a former Secretary-General of the Socialist Party from 2011 to 2014, is campaigning on a platform that seeks to unite various segments of the political spectrum. He is officially supported by the Socialist Party and has been actively seeking to consolidate votes from the center-left and left. His campaign has focused on presenting himself as a unifying figure capable of ensuring political stability and representing democratic values in Portugal.