Madrid, 19 January 2026 (dpa/MIA) — No candidate won a majority in the first round of the Portuguese presidential election on Sunday, the electoral commission said, setting up a run-off between the top two contenders.

António José Seguro of the social democratic Socialist Party (PS) received 31.1% of the vote, according to the electoral commission CNE.

Right-wing populist André Ventura came second, with 23.5% of the vote.

A candidate needs more than 50% to secure an outright victory.

A total of 11 candidates took part in the first round of the election.

The strong showing of Ventura, 43, in the race to succeed conservative incumbent Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, 77, underscores the rapid rise of right-wing populists in Portugal, an EU member country.

Just six years after its founding, Ventura's Chega (Enough) party had already become the second-strongest force in the Lisbon parliament in May last year.

But Ventura is not expected to win the run-off election, as the latest polls suggest more than 60% of voters would definitely not vote for him in the second round.

The run-off election will take place on February 8. It is the first time since 1986 that a run-off election has been needed.

The new president is scheduled to take office on March 9.