The Lisboeta

11-candidate debate: Seguro was a target and offered little criticism, but the main clash was Mendes vs Gouveia e Melo

Wednesday, 7 January 2026RSS
11-candidate debate: Seguro was a target and offered little criticism, but the main clash was Mendes vs Gouveia e Melo

The RTP debate — the only one to include all 11 candidates — centred on personalised attacks and contrasting styles. Ventura and José Seguro were frequent targets while Rui Rio’s former ally Mendes emerged as the most aggressive, clashing chiefly with Admiral Gouveia e Melo; the two men’s exchange became the debate’s defining confrontation. Other notable dynamics included mutual restraint between Almirante and the Chega leader, André Pestana’s bold interventions, Manuel João Vieira’s ironic tone, and even criticism directed at Marcelo, suggesting a campaign increasingly shaped by personality and tactical barbs rather than detailed policy battles.

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