At the end of the first week of the campaign, the Social Democrat donned kickboxing gloves and set out his strategy as convincing 'the undecided'.
"Alguns comportamentos de Cotrim caem no ridículo": Marques Mendes deixa críticas a adversário à direita
Saturday, 10 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
The Social Democratic Party ('Partido Social Democrata' or 'PSD') is a liberal-conservative political party in Portugal that is the leading partner of the The Democratic Alliance (AD) which is the country's ruling party, with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
The Social Democratic Party, despite its name, occupies the centre-right of Portugal's political spectrum. Luís Montenegro, who became Prime Minister in April 2024, leads Portugal's current minority government. The PSD has been one of Portugal's two dominant parties since 1974, having formed nine governments including four with absolute majorities. Montenegro, a former party leader from 1996-1999, was elected with the highest approval rating among party leaders at 10.7 points out of 20.
The Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition that includes the smaller CDS – People's Party, a Christian democratic party that has historically been the PSD's coalition partner. Together, they govern without a parliamentary majority, requiring case-by-case support from opposition parties to pass legislation.
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Other news coverage of this topic
- Tracking poll 'made Cotrim de Figueiredo realise there is a lack of conviction on Marques Mendes's campaign, which he could exploit' • CNN Portugal
- Tracking poll, day 6: Seguro returns to first place, Ventura is overtaken and drops to third • CNN Portugal
- Tracking poll, day 6: Seguro again in front, Cotrim rises to second, Ventura on the podium • CNN Portugal
- Mendes: 'I will go through to the second round in first place' • Observador
- Ventura wants to know which side Montenegro will take in the second round of the presidential election • Correio da Manhã
- Admiral 'weary of cynicism' • Correio da Manhã
- Marques Mendes raises the bar: 'I will come first' • Observador
- On the ninth day of the official campaign, Marques Mendes raises the bar: "I will advance to the second round in first place" • RTP Notícias
- The trivialisation of tragedy • Correio da Manhã
- Politics, Deconstructed • Correio da Manhã
- A Little Fondness for Surprise • Público
- Ventura, the Government/Chega alliance and the second round • Público
- Cotrim de Figueiredo accuses rivals of 'lack of greatness' • RTP Notícias
- Seguro returns to the lead, Cotrim moves into second • Observador
