2026 Portuguese presidential election

Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in Portugal on 18 or 25 January 2026, with a possible second round on 8 or 15 February 2026.^[1][2] The incumbent President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (president since 2016, supported by PSD), is constitutionally barred from running for a third consecutive term.

2026 Portuguese presidential election

← 2021 18 or 25 January 2026 2031 →

Opinion polls

Incumbent President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa PSD

Several personalities declared their candidacy, including the former coordinator of the COVID-19 Vaccination Task Force Henrique Gouveia e Melo^[3] and former Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Luís Marques Mendes.^[4] The Socialist Party (PS) is still undecided on whether to support former party leader António José Seguro^[5] or not,^[6] with a decision only expected after the 2025 local elections,^[7] even though it's starting to seem inevitable that the party will eventually support its former leader.^[8] André Ventura, the leader of Chega, previously announced his candidacy, but after becoming leader of the opposition following the 2025 legislative election has indicated that he may drop out.^[9]

Background

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was re-elected in January 2021 with nearly 61 percent of the votes in the first round. He took the oath of office on March 9, 2021, and continued the period of cohabitation with Socialist Party Prime Minister António Costa, which lasted until April 2024. This cohabitation ended after the March 2024 elections, which saw Luís Montenegro, from the Social Democratic Party (the same party as the President), nominated as Prime Minister.

In Portugal, the president serves as the head of state with primarily ceremonial duties, though the president holds some political influence and can dissolve Parliament during a crisis. The president also resides at the Belém Palace in Lisbon. Since the Carnation Revolution, all Portuguese presidents have been re-elected for a second term and never tried a third, with one exception: Mário Soares (PS), who sought a non-consecutive third term in the 2006 presidential election but lost. Thus, every president since 1976 has served exactly two terms. By the end of his 10 years in office, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa saw a very strong drop in his popularity according to polling.

Electoral system

To stand for election, candidates must be of Portuguese origin and over 35 years old, gather 7,500 signatures of support one month before the election, and submit them to the Constitutional Court of Portugal. Then, the Constitutional Court has to certify if the candidacies submitted meet the requirements to appear on the ballot. The highest number of candidacies ever accepted was ten, in 2016. A candidate must receive a majority of votes (50% plus one vote) to be elected. If no candidate achieves a majority in the first round, a runoff election (i.e., second round, held between the two candidates who receive the most votes in the first round) has to be held.^[10]

Candidates

Declared

Candidate		Party support	Political office(s)	Details	Campaign announced	Ref.
André Pestana (48)		Independent	None	Teacher; national leader of the Union of All Education Professionals (S.T.O.P.). Former Left Bloc (BE) and Socialist Alternative Movement (MAS) member.	21 December 2024 Website	[11][12]
André Ventura (42)		CHEGA	Leader of the Opposition (since 2025) President of CHEGA (since 2019) Member of the Council of State (since 2024) Member of Parliament for Lisbon (since 2019)	Founder of CHEGA; candidate in the 2021 presidential election, finished third with 11.9% of the votes.	4 January 2025	[13][9]
Orlando Cruz (73)		Independent	None	Perennial candidate; retired taxi driver; former CDS–People's Party (CDS–PP) member; failed candidate in the 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021 presidential elections.	17 January 2025	[14]
Aristides Teixeira (65)		Independent	None	Perennial candidate; leader of the 1994 25 April bridge riots against increased tolls; RTP employee; failed candidate in the 1996 and 2011 presidential elections.	27 January 2025	[15]
Manuela Magno (72)		Independent	None	Volt Portugal (VP) member; physics professor at University of Évora; failed candidate in the 2006 presidential election.	31 January 2025 Website	[16][17]
Luís Marques Mendes (67)		Social Democratic Party	Member of the Council of State (since 2011) President of the Social Democratic Party (2005–2007) Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (2002–2004) Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister (1992–1995) Other offices President of the Parliamentary Group of the Social Democratic Party (1995–1996) Secretary of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (1987–1992) Member of Parliament for Aveiro (1999–2007) Member of Parliament for Braga (1995–1999) Deputy Mayor of Fafe (1976–1985)	Social Democratic Party (PSD) member from 1974 to 2025, suspending his party membership to run for President; political commentator on SIC.	6 February 2025 Website	[4][18][19]
Pedro Tinoco de Faria (63)		Independent	None	Retired Lieutenant colonel; businessperson; writer.	1 May 2025 Website	[20]
Henrique Gouveia e Melo (64)		Independent	Chief of the Naval Staff (2021–2024) Coordinator of the COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Task Force (2021) Commander of the European Maritime Force (2017–2019)	Independent; Admiral; retired Navy officer.	29 May 2025 Website	[3][21][22]
Joana Amaral Dias (52)		National Democratic Alternative	Member of Parliament for Lisbon (2002–2005)	Current TV pundit; adherent of feminism and skepticism towards Covid vaccines and climate change; former Left Bloc (BE) member from 2002 to 2014.	10 June 2025	[23][24]
António José Seguro (63)		Independent	Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (2011–2014) Member of the Council of State (2011–2014) President of the Parliamentary Group of the Socialist Party (2004–2005) Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister (2001–2002) Other offices Member of the European Parliament (1999–2001) Secretary of State Assistant to the Prime Minister (1997–1999) Secretary of State for Youth Affairs (1995–1997) Member of Parliament for Braga (2005–2014) Member of Parliament for Lisbon (2002–2005) Member of Parliament for Guarda (1995–1999) Member of Parliament for Porto (1991–1995)	Socialist Party (PS) member; political commentator on CNN Portugal; university professor.	15 June 2025 Website	[25][26]
Vitorino Silva (54)		Independent	President of React, Include, Recycle (2019–2022) President of the Parish Council of Rans (1994–2002)	More commonly known as Tino de Rans; React, Include, Recycle (RIR) member; paver; candidate in the 2016 presidential election, finishing sixth with 3.3% of the votes, and candidate in the 2021 presidential election, finishing seventh with 3.0% of the votes.	17 June 2025	[27][28]
Ângela Maryah (53)		Independent	None	Life coach.	26 June 2025	[29]
António Filipe (62)		Portuguese Communist Party	Vice President of the Assembly of the Republic (2002–2009; 2011–2015; 2019–2022) Member of Parliament for Lisbon (1987–2009; 2024–2025) Member of Parliament for Santarém (2009–2022)	Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) member; jurist; university professor.	29 June 2025 Website	[30][31]
Raul Perestrello (65)		Independent	None	Independent; businessman.	11 July 2025 Website	[32]
Bruno Morgado		Independent	None	Independent; member of the Association of Portuguese Libertarians.	18 July 2025	[33]
José Cardoso (53)		Liberal Social Party	President of the Liberal Social Party (since 2025)	Founder of the Liberal Social Party (PLS).	21 July 2025	[34]
João Cotrim de Figueiredo (64)		Liberal Initiative	Member of the European Parliament (since 2024) President of the Liberal Initiative (2019–2023) Member of Parliament for Lisbon (2019–2024)	Liberal Initiative (IL) member; businessman; former President of the Tourism of Portugal (2013–2016).	13 August 2025 Website	[35][36]
Hugo Gonçalo Louret Pires		Independent	None	Independent.		[37]
Rui Costa		Independent	Member of the Municipal Assembly of Lisbon (2017–2021) City Councillor of São Pedro do Sul (2001–2002)	Researcher; former Left Bloc (BE) member until September 2018; Socialist Party (PS) candidate for mayor of São Pedro do Sul in the 2001 local election.		[38][39]
Sérgio Gave Fraga (59)		Independent	None	Independent; failed candidate in the 2016 presidential election; former NC candidate in the 2019 legislative election.		[40]
Eduardo Lourenço		Independent	None	Independent.		[41]

Withdrew candidacy

Candidate		Party support	Political office(s)	Details	Campaign announced	Campaign suspended	Ref.
Mariana Leitão (42)		Liberal Initiative	President of the Liberal Initiative (since 2025) President of the Parliamentary Group of the Liberal Initiative (since 2024) Member of Parliament for Lisbon (since 2024)	Liberal Initiative (IL) member since 2019; represented Portugal in the 2022 World Bridge Championship; withdrew after announcing her candidacy for the IL party leadership.	2 February 2025	5 June 2025 (endorsed Cotrim)	[42][43][44]
Tim Vieira (50)		Independent	None	Independent; businessman; investor on the TV show Shark Tank on SIC; founder of Brave Generation Academy.	31 August 2023 Website	19 August 2025	[45][46]

Publicly expressed interest

Left Bloc

• Catarina Martins – incumbent MEP since 2024; former leader of the Left Bloc (2012–2023); former MP (2009–2023)^[47][48][49]

Independent

• Isidro Morais Pereira – Major general; retired Army officer; political commentator^[50] (decision expected after the local elections in October 2025)^[51]
• Rui Moreira – incumbent Mayor of Porto (since 2013)^[52][53] (decision expected in September 2025)

• 
  MEP
  Catarina Martins
• 
  Major general
  Isidro Morais Pereira
• 
  Mayor of Porto
  Rui Moreira

Potential

CDS - People's Party

• Paulo Portas – former leader of CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP) (1998–2005, 2007–2016); former deputy prime minister (2013–2015); minister in the 15th, 16th, 19th and 20th governments; former MP (1995–2016)^{[54][55][56][57]}

Livre

• Patrícia Gonçalves – incumbent MP since 2025^[58]

• 
  Former Deputy Prime Minister
  Paulo Portas

Declined

• Ana Gomes – former MEP (2014–2019); finished in second place in the previous presidential election^[59][60][61] (endorsed António José Seguro)^[62]
• António Costa – incumbent president of the European Council since 2024 ; former prime minister (2015–2024); former secretary-general of the Socialist Party (PS) (2014–2024); minister in the 13th, 14th and 17th governments; former MP (1991–2005; 2015–2024)^[63][64]
• António Guterres – incumbent secretary-general of the United Nations since 2017; former prime minister (1995–2002); former secretary-general of the Socialist Party (PS) (1992–2002); former MP (1976–2002)^[65][66][67]
• António Sampaio da Nóvoa – former member of the Council of State (2022–2024); former Permanent Delegate to UNESCO (2018–2021); former rector of the University of Lisbon (2006–2013); finished in second place in the 2016 presidential election^{[68][69][70][71][72]}
• António Vitorino – former director-general of the International Organization for Migration (2018–2023); former European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs (1999–2004); former minister of the presidency and of defence (1995–1997); former judge of the Constitutional Court (1989–1994); former MP (1980–1989, 1995–1999, 2005–2009)^{[73][74][75][76]}
• Augusto Santos Silva – former president of the Assembly of the Republic (2022–2024); minister in the 14th, 17th, 18th, 21st, 22nd governments; former MP (1995–2024)^{[77][78][79][80]}
• Carlos César – incumbent member of the Council of State since 2016; incumbent President of the Socialist Party since 2014; former President of the Regional Government of the Azores (1996–2012); former MP (1987–1991; 2015–2019)^[81][82]
• Carlos Moedas – incumbent mayor of Lisbon since 2021; member of the Council of State since 2024; former European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation (2014–2019); former MP (2011–2014)^[83][84] (endorsed Luís Marques Mendes)^[85]
• Cristina Ferreira – television presenter; businesswoman; celebrity^[86]
• Elisa Ferreira – former European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms (2019–2024); minister in the 13th and 14th governments; former MEP (2004–2016); former MP (2002–2004)^[87][88][89]
• Fernando Medina – former minister of finance (2022–2024); former mayor of Lisbon (2015–2021)^[90][91]
• Francisco Assis – MEP since 2024 (and previously in 2004-2009 and 2014-2019); former MP (1995–2004; 2009–2014; 2024); former mayor of Amarante (1989-1995)^[92][93] (endorsed António José Seguro)^[94]
• João Ferreira – former MEP (2009–2021); presidential candidate in the previous election^[95][96] (endorsed António Filipe)^[97]
• José Luís Carneiro – incumbent MP since 2015 (also in 2005); former Minister of Internal Administration (2022–2024); former Mayor of Baião (2005–2015)^[98]
• José Manuel Durão Barroso – former president of the European Commission (2004–2014); former prime minister (2002–2004); former president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (1998–2004); former minister of foreign affairs (1992–1995); former MP (1985–2004)^{[99][100][101]}
• José Pedro Aguiar-Branco – incumbent president of the Assembly of the Republic since 2024; incumbent MP since 2024 (also in 2005–2019); minister in the 16th, 19th and 20th governments^[102]
• Leonor Beleza – incumbent member of the Council of State since 2008; former minister of health (1985–1990); former MP (1983–1985; 1987–1995; 2002–2005)^[103][104] (endorsed Luís Marques Mendes)^[105]
• Luís Filipe Menezes – former mayor of Vila Nova de Gaia (1997-2013); former president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2007–2008)^[106][107]
• Mário Centeno – incumbent governor of the Bank of Portugal since 2020; former president of the Eurogroup (2018–2020); former minister of finance (2015–2020)^{[108][90][109][110]}
• Marisa Matias – incumbent MP since 2024; former MEP (2009–2024); presidential candidate in the 2016 and 2021 presidential elections^[111][112]
• Paulo Raimundo – incumbent secretary-general of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) since 2022; incumbent MP since 2024^[113] (endorsed António Filipe)^[30]
• Pedro Passos Coelho – former prime minister (2011-2015); former president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2010-2018); former MP (1991–1999; 2011–2018)^{[114][115][116]}
• Pedro Santana Lopes – incumbent mayor of Figueira da Foz since 2021 (also in 1998–2002); former prime minister (2004–2005); former mayor of Lisbon (2002–2004; 2005); former president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2004–2005); former secretary of state of the presidency (1985–1987) and of culture (1990–1994); former MP (1980–1995, 2001–2002, 2005–2009); former MEP (1985–1987)^[117][118]
• Rodrigo Saraiva – incumbent Vice President of the Assembly of the Republic since 2024; incumbent MP since 2022; former leader of the IL parliamentary caucus (2022-2024)^[119][120]
• Rui Rio – former president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2018–2022); former mayor of Porto (2002–2013); former MP (1991–2002; 2019–2022)^{[121][122][123]} (endorsed Henrique Gouveia e Melo)^[124]
• Rui Rocha – former leader of the Liberal Initiative (IL) (2023–2025); incumbent MP since 2022^[125]
• Rui Tavares – incumbent MP since 2022; former MEP (2009–2014)^[126][58]
• Tiago Mayan – former president of the Parish of Aldoar, Foz do Douro e Nevogilde (2021–2024); presidential candidate in the previous election^[127]

Campaign

Candidates' slogans

Candidate		Original slogan	English translation	Refs
	António José Seguro	« Seguro Portugal »	"Safe Portugal"	[128]
	Henrique Gouveia e Melo	« Unir Portugal »	"Unite Portugal"	[129]
	João Cotrim Figueiredo	« Imagina Portugal »	"Imagine Portugal"	[130]
	Luís Marques Mendes	« MM2026 »	"MM2026"	[131]
	Manuela Magno	« Cidadania ativa, por Portugal, na Europa e no mundo »	"Active citizenship, for Portugal, in Europe and in the world"	[132]
	Raul Perestrello	« Valorizar Portugal »	"Valuing Portugal"	[133]
	Tim Vieira[a]	« O coração da mudança »	"The heart of change"	[134]

Opinion polling

Main article: Opinion polling for the 2026 Portuguese presidential election

Notes

1. Withdrew