2026 Portuguese presidential election

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2026 Portuguese presidential election
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←  2021 January 2026
Incumbent President

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
PSD



Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in Portugal in January 2026. The elections will elect the successor to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who is barred from running for a third term.

Contents

Background and election procedure

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was re-elected in January 2021 with almost 61% 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. After that, President and Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, are from the same party, the Social Democratic Party. 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.

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

Publicly expressed interest

Socialist Party

Social Democratic Party

CHEGA

Independent

Potential

Socialist Party

Social Democratic Party

Left Bloc

Liberal Initiative

Portuguese Communist Party

CDS - People's Party

Independent

Declined

Opinion polling

First round

Graphic summary

Polling

Polling firmFieldwork dateSample
size		O/
U		Lead
Ind. PS PSD CDS PSD BE BE PS CH CDU CDU PS IL PSD PS Ind. PS Ind. Ind.
Intercampus 9–14 Sep 20236147.88.815.83.96.0—5.51.59.0—2.03.43.33.114.8——3.92.09.31.0
Intercampus 3–6 Jul 20236237.914.313.33.23.0—6.91.411.4—0.85.93.2—15.1—2.72.61.96.30.8
Intercampus 3–10 Feb 202360210.010.615.8—3.84.3—3.89.5——6.03.84.013.54.7———10.2
[lower-alpha 1] 		2.3
Intercampus
[lower-alpha 2] 		15–20 Nov 202260515.99.615.26.37.34.0—5.86.13.3—8.62.1——————15.80.7
Intercampus 6–11 Jul 202260531.7——10.910.47.8—7.86.13.0—————————22.320.8
———18.317.412.7—12.2—4.5—————————34.90.9
—31.1—13.616.27.8———4.0—————————27.414.9
——23.1—16.512.9—12.4—4.5—————————30.66.6

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

Polling firmFieldwork dateSample
size		O/ULead
PSD PSD PSD CH CDS Ind. IL
14–18 Sep 2023 Aximage 80419.819.513.011.311.27.06.012.20.3

Center-left/Left

Polling firmFieldwork dateSample
size		O/ULead
PS PS Ind. BE PS PS CDU
14–18 Sep 2023 Aximage 8043419129865715

Approval ratings

Graphical summary

Polling

The table below lists the evolution of public opinion on the President's performance in office.

Polling
firm		Fieldwork
date		Sample
size		 Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
ApproveDisapproveNo opinionNet
Aximage 29 Mar–3 Apr 20248053225437
Intercampus 6–10 Feb 202460833.833.432.80.4
Intercampus 16–20 Jan 202463729.341.329.412.0
Aximage 18–23 Dec 202380528452717
Intercampus 18–21 Dec 202361129.338.132.68.8
Aximage 18–23 Nov 20238023733304
Intercampus 14–17 Nov 202360233.336.230.42.9
Aximage 18–24 Oct 202380544342210
Intercampus 18–23 Oct 202360438.333.128.65.2
Aximage 2–5 Oct 20236013430364
Intercampus 9–14 Sep 202361444.424.231.420.2
Intercampus 7–11 Aug 202360750.121.028.929.1
Aximage 6–11 Jul 202380053272026
Intercampus 3–6 Jul 202362340.030.729.39.3
Intercampus 25–31 May 202361137.532.430.15.1
Aximage 10–14 Apr 20238054437197
Intercampus 6–12 Apr 202361043.625.530.918.1
Intercampus 9–15 Mar 202361345.626.827.618.8
Intercampus 3–10 Feb 202360241.228.430.412.8
Aximage 10–14 Jan 202380545352010
Intercampus 6–11 Jan 202360546.826.327.020.5
Pitagórica 9–15 Dec 20228286332531
ICS/ISCTE 3–15 Dec 20228097127244
Intercampus 17–22 Oct 202260745.026.328.718.7
Aximage 21–24 Sep 202281049252624
Intercampus 9–15 Sep 202260652.018.129.933.9
Intercampus 3–10 Aug 202260556.516.926.639.6
Pitagórica 28 Jul–10 Aug 20228286431533
Intercampus 6–11 Jul 202260557.219.523.337.7
Aximage 5–10 Jul 202281056222234
Pitagórica 21 Jun–4 Jul 20228287027343
Intercampus 8–14 Jun 202261160.913.825.347.1
Intercampus 7–15 May 202261161.214.624.246.6
Aximage 12–18 Apr 202280761152446
Intercampus 13–20 Aug 202161262.312.824.949.5
Eurosondagem 26–29 Jul 20211,02581.18.010.973.1
Aximage 10–12 Jul 202176355182737
Eurosondagem 5–8 Jul 20211,02280.89.79.571.1
Aximage 26–30 May 202179670102060
Eurosondagem 10–13 May 20211,00880.09.410.670.6
Intercampus 5–11 May 202161069.011.119.957.9
Aximage 22–25 Apr 202183071101961
Intercampus 7–13 Apr 202160967.014.718.352.3
ICS/ISCTE 5–13 Apr 202180279.97.312.872.6
Eurosondagem 5–8 Apr 20211,02075.14.820.170.3
Aximage 24–27 Mar 202183072171155
Intercampus 4–10 Mar 202161569.310.220.559.1

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Francisco Assis - 0.5%; Others/Neither/Would not vote - 9.7%:
  2. ↑ Voters were asked which candidate they prefer.

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References

  1. ↑ "Tim Vieira anuncia candidatura a Belém. Quer "começar a criar uma visão para o país"". Diário de Notícias (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  2. ↑ Cunha, Mariana Lima. "Esquerda procura candidata a Belém e pensa em Alexandra Leitão, que admite "interesse" em "entendimentos alargados"". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  3. ↑ Duarte, José Carlos. ""Nunca digas nunca" e "futuro a Deus pertence." Santos Silva não descarta candidatar-se à Presidência da República". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "O que Medina nos anda a esconder". Jornal Expresso (in European Portuguese). 21 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  5. ↑ PÚBLICO (2023-08-27). "Marques Mendes admite candidatar-se à Presidência da República". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 “Exclusivo Palácio de Belém, 2026. Os possíveis inquilinos que se seguem”, Diário de Notícias (October 25, 2020).
  7. ↑ Antunes, André Filipe. "Presidenciais de 2026. André Ventura assume que pode ser candidato se Santos Silva e Marques Mendes avançarem". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  8. ↑ "José Castelo Branco: "Se calhar tenho que me candidatar à Presidência da República"". Holofote (in European Portuguese). 2022-01-16. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  9. ↑ ""Não me excluo de nada". Santana Lopes antevê presidenciais de 2026". ZAP Notícias (in European Portuguese). 2020-10-02. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  10. ↑ Figueiredo, Inês André. "Santana Lopes candidato a Presidente da República? "Não vejo no centro-direita ninguém com melhor currículo do que eu"". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  11. ↑ ECO (2023-08-30). "Santana Lopes atira decisão de concorrer às presidenciais para o meio de 2024". ECO (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Sondagem TVI/CNN: Gouveia e Melo, Costa e Passos Coelho são os candidatos presidenciais com maior potencial. Sócrates e Jerónimo no fim da tabela". CNN Portugal (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  13. ↑ “Costa prepara Legislativas a pensar nas Presidenciais de 2026? Há quem aposte nisso”, Observador (June 11, 2018).
  14. 1 2 "Serão Guterres e Barroso presidenciáveis?". Jornal SOL (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  15. ↑ Lopes, Ana Sá (9 May 2023). "António José Seguro já não exclui regressar à política". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  16. ↑ Mariana Lima Cunha; Rui Pedro Antunes (25 May 2023). "Vitorino, que já foi o favorito de Costa para Belém, não entusiasma PS". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  17. ↑ "Francisco Assis diz que "não está nem deixa de estar disponível" para presidenciais". www.cmjornal.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  18. ↑ "Passos Coelho "vai perder muito significativamente" se for candidato a Presidente. "Seja qual for o candidato do outro lado"". TVI Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  19. ↑ Cunha, Mariana Lima. "Catarina Martins não vai para a "reforma". Partido admite apostar na líder cessante para Europeias ou Presidenciais". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  20. 1 2 "Almirante Gouveia e Melo bate políticos na corrida à Presidência". www.cmjornal.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-07-15.
  21. ↑ "Almirante Gouveia e Melo à frente de Pedro Passos Coelho na corrida à presidência da República". www.cmjornal.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  22. ↑ "Eleições presidenciais". www.cmjornal.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  23. ↑ ZAP (2020-10-11). "Portas não quer Câmara de Lisboa. Já está de olho nas presidenciais de 2026". ZAP Notícias (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  24. ↑ "Foi você que pediu um candidato a Belém?". Expresso (in Portuguese). 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  25. ↑ "Sócrates diz que "mentiras caíram", promete defender-se e avisa ter "muito a dizer", Jornal de Negócios (April 9, 2021).
  26. ↑ "Candidatura à Presidência da República? Gouveia e Melo diz que daria um péssimo político". SIC Notícias (in European Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  27. ↑ Portugal, Rádio e Televisão de (16 December 2021). "Vice-Almirante Gouveia e Melo não exclui candidatura a Belém". Vice-Almirante Gouveia e Melo não exclui candidatura a Belém (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  28. ↑ "Gouveia e Melo sobre candidatura presidencial. "Parece que alguém quer ter um seguro de vida"". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  29. ↑ "Marcelo deita o país no divã e lança mais um candidato a Belém". www.dn.pt (in European Portuguese). 21 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  30. ↑ "Durão Barroso avisa PSD que tem de "ganhar" as eleições europeias (e afasta candidatura presidencial)". Expresso (in Portuguese). 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
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