Portugal Has Elected This Socialist Politician As Its Next President By A Huge Margin, Beating The Far-Right
On Feb. 8, Antonio Jose Seguro, a moderate socialist, won the presidential elections in a landslide, securing 66.7% of the votes.
Portugal has elected a socialist politician, Antonio Jose Seguro, as its next president, marking the country’s first socialist president in two decades.
On Sunday, Feb. 8, Seguro, a moderate socialist, won the presidential elections in a landslide, securing 66.7% of the votes.
While the presidential position is largely ceremonial, the role allows the president to veto legislation, dissolve parliament or call for earlier elections.
Seguro beat far-right candidate André Ventura, who won 33.18% of votes and whose campaign focused on anti-establishment and anti-immigration across Portugal, such as “This isn’t Bangladesh” and “Immigrants shouldn’t be allowed to live on welfare.”
During the campaign, Seguro was willing to cooperate with the governing center-right party, while also rejecting Ventura’s messages.
"The entire political system, across both right and left, united against me," Seguro said after his win to reporters, according to Reuters.
"The response the Portuguese people gave today, their commitment to freedom, democracy, and the future of our country, leaves me naturally moved and proud of our nation."
Seguro’s win marks a significant pushback against the far-right in Portugal.
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