- Source: 2026 Portuguese presidential election
Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in Portugal in January 2026. The election will elect the successor to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who is barred from running for a third term.
Background
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was re-elected in January 2021 with almost 61 percent of the votes on the first round. He took the oath of office on 9 March 2021, and continued the cohabitation with Socialist Prime Minister António Costa that lasted until April 2024. This cohabitation ended after the March 2024 elections which resulted in the nomination of Luís Montenegro, from the Social Democratic Party, also the party of the President, as Prime Minister. In Portugal, the president is the head of state and has mostly ceremonial powers; however, the president has some political influence and can dissolve the Parliament of Portugal if a crisis occurs. The president also has an official residence in the Belém Palace in Lisbon.
Electoral system
To stand for election, candidates for the presidency each have to 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. Under Portuguese law, 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.
Candidates
= Declared
=Independent
Tim Vieira – businessman
= Expected to announce
=Independent
Henrique Gouveia e Melo – chief of the Naval Staff since 2021; former coordinator of the COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Task Force (2021); former commander of the European Maritime Force (2017–2019); Portuguese Navy officer (expected to announce his candidacy in March 2025)
= Publicly expressed interest
=Socialist Party
António José Seguro – former Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (PS) (2011–2014); former member of the Council of State (2011–2014); former Minister Assistant (2001–2002); former Secretary of State Assistant and of Youth Affairs (1995–1999); former MEP (1999–2001); former MP (1991–1995, 2002–2014) (decision expected in 2025)
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)
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)
Social Democratic Party
Luís Marques Mendes – member of the Council of State since 2011; former President of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2005–2007); minister in the 12th and 15th governments; former deputy Mayor of Fafe (1977–1985); former MP (1995–2007) (decision expected in some months)
CHEGA
André Ventura – incumbent leader of CHEGA since 2019; incumbent MP (since 2019); presidential candidate in the previous election
Portuguese Communist Party
Paulo Raimundo – incumbent Secretary-General of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) since 2022; incumbent MP (since 2024)
Independent
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) (decision expected in 2025)
= Potential
=Socialist Party
Alexandra Leitão – incumbent parliamentary leader of the Socialist Party (PS) since 2024; former minister for the Modernization of the State and Public Administration (2019–2022)
Ana Gomes – former MEP (2014–2019); finished in second place in the previous presidential election
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)
Fernando Medina – former Minister of Finance (2022–2024); former mayor of Lisbon (2015–2021)
Francisco Assis – incumbent MEP since 2024 (also in 2004–2009; 2014–2019); former MP (1995–2004; 2009–2014; 2024); former mayor of Amarante (1990–1995)
Mário Centeno – incumbent governor of the Bank of Portugal since 2020; former President of the Eurogroup (2018–2020); former Minister of Finance (2015–2020)
Social Democratic Party
Rui Rio – former Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader (2018–2022); former mayor of Porto (2002–2013); former MP (1991–2002; 2019–2022)
Left Bloc
Catarina Martins – incumbent MEP since 2024; former leader of the Left Bloc (2012–2023); former MP (2009–2023)
Francisco Louçã – former leader of the Left Bloc (BE) (1999–2012); former MP (1999–2012); candidate for the 2006 presidential election
Mariana Mortágua – incumbent Left Bloc (BE) leader since 2023; incumbent MP since 2013
Liberal Initiative
João Cotrim de Figueiredo – incumbent MEP since 2024; former leader of the Liberal Initiative (IL) (2019–2023); former MP (2019–2023)
Portuguese Communist Party
João Ferreira – former MEP (2009–2021); presidential candidate in the previous election
Manuel Carvalho da Silva – former General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (CGTP–IN) Secretary-General (1986–2012)
CDS - People's Party
Paulo Portas – former leader of CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP) (1998–2005, 2007–2016); deputy prime minister (2013–2015); minister in the 15th, 16th, 19th and 20th governments; former MP (1995–2016)
Cecília Meireles – former parliamentary leader of the CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP) (2019–2020); former Secretary of State for Tourism (2011–2013); former MP (2009–2022)
Livre
Rui Tavares – incumbent member of Parliament since 2022; former MEP (2009–2014)
Independent
António Sampaio da Nóvoa – former Rector of the University of Lisbon (2006–2013); finished in second place in the 2016 presidential election
José Sócrates – former prime minister (2005–2011); former secretary-general of the Socialist Party (PS) (2004–2011); minister in the 13th and 14th governments; former MP (1987–2011)
Rui Moreira – incumbent mayor of Porto since 2013
= Declined
=António Costa – appointed President of the European Council since July 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)
José Durão Barroso – former President of the European Commission (2004–2014); former prime minister (2002–2004); former Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader (1998–2004); former Minister of Foreign Affairs (1992–1995); former MP (1985–2004)
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)
Pedro Passos Coelho – former prime minister (2011–2015); former Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader (2010–2018); former MP (1991–1999; 2011–2018)
Opinion polling
= First round
=Graphic summary
Polling
= Preferred candidate
=Poll results showing public opinion on who would be the best candidate for each political side, are shown in the table below in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first.
Center-right/Right
Center-left/Left
= Approval ratings
=Graphical summary
Polling
The table below lists the evolution of public opinion on the President's performance in office.
See also
Politics of Portugal
President of Portugal
Notes
References
External links
Official results site, Portuguese Justice Ministry
Portuguese Electoral Commission
ERC – Official publication of polls
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- 2026 Portuguese presidential election
- List of elections in 2026
- 2026 Brazilian general election
- 2021 Portuguese presidential election
- List of elections in 2025
- 2024 Portuguese legislative election
- 2022 Brazilian general election
- 2018 Brazilian general election
- Next Portuguese legislative election
- 2010 Brazilian general election
