Lisbon, Feb 9, (V7N) – Centre-left candidate Antonio José Seguro has won Portugal’s presidential election, defeating far-right rival André Ventura in a runoff held after devastating storms disrupted the campaign.

With nearly all ballots counted, Seguro secured 66.8 percent of the vote to Ventura’s 33.2 percent, ensuring he will succeed conservative Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa as head of state. The 63-year-old Socialist veteran pledged to be “a leader for all Portuguese,” while Ventura conceded defeat but hailed his party’s best-ever result.

The election was overshadowed by two weeks of storms that killed at least seven people and caused billions in damage, forcing voting delays in several constituencies. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron quickly welcomed Seguro’s victory, calling it a reaffirmation of European values.

Ventura, the first far-right candidate to reach a runoff in Portugal, campaigned on breaking with the country’s traditional parties. Seguro positioned himself as a unifying figure, drawing support across the political spectrum. He will take office in early March, with powers that include dissolving parliament and calling early elections, though the presidency is largely symbolic.

END/WD/RH