At the presentation of the Honorary Committee, the presidential candidate backed by the PS dramatised the consequences of failing to reach the second round, pointing to a 'point of no return'. The Socialist Party's secretary-general, José Luís Carneiro, cast Seguro as the 'swing vote'.
António José Seguro calls for tactical voting and dramatises: the left 'risks being excluded from the second round'
Sunday, 4 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Socialist Party (PS)
- Leader: José Luís Carneiro (since June 2025)
- Ideology: Center-left, Social democracy, pro-Europeanism
Portugal's other traditional major party suffered a historic collapse in the 2025 election, dropping from 78 to 58 seats and falling to third place for the first time in democratic history. The party was led by Pedro Nuno Santos from January 2024 until his resignation following the May 2025 defeat. José Luís Carneiro, a 53-year-old former Minister of Internal Administration known for his moderate positioning within the party, was elected unopposed as the new Secretary-General with 95% of votes in June 2025. The Socialist Party governed Portugal from 2015 to 2024, including an absolute majority from 2022 to 2024 under António Costa, who resigned in November 2023 amid a corruption investigation. The PS previously led the innovative "Geringonça" (contraption) coalition government from 2015-2019, a minority government supported by the Left Bloc and Portuguese Communist Party that reversed austerity measures and presided over economic recovery.
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Other news coverage of this topic
- Presidential election: what is tactical voting?12:17am, 5 Jan 2026 • Observador
- Alongside Carneiro, Seguro warns the left may have no representation in the second round of the presidential election10:21pm, 4 Jan 2026 • CNN Portugal
- Seguro appeals to left voters to avoid a second round with 'limited choice'10:13pm, 4 Jan 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Seguro warns the left risks missing out on the second round9:44pm, 4 Jan 2026 • Observador
- Presidential election: Seguro again appeals for tactical voting8:53pm, 4 Jan 2026 • RTP Notícias
