Presidential candidate Luís Marques Mendes said today that the PSD leader and Prime Minister's call to concentrate votes in the presidential election was correct, but he refused to be the Government's candidate.
Montenegro's call to concentrate votes was correct
Monday, 5 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
- 2026 Presidential candidate
- Party: Social Democratic Party (PSD) Partido Social Democrata
- Lawyer, veteran center right politician
Luís Marques Mendes (born September 5, 1957, in Guimarães) is a lawyer and veteran centre-right politician running for Portugal's presidency in the January 18, 2026 election. A PSD member since 1975, he served across four constitutional governments spanning 13 years as Secretary of State and Minister under Prime Ministers Cavaco Silva and Durão Barroso, creating the Lusa News Agency and RTP Internacional. He led the PSD parliamentary group (1996-1999) and later served as party president (2005-2007), earning a reputation for ethical governance. After leaving politics, he worked as a lawyer at Abreu Advogados and became a prominent political commentator on SIC television. In 2026, backed by the ruling PSD and the allied CDS-PP, Mendes emerged as the centre-right establishment candidate. Recent polling shows him tied or leading first-round voting intention, and polls consistently indicate he is the most viable winner against other candidates in runoff scenarios, making him a strong contender.
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.
Rui Rio is a centre‑right politician who served as mayor of Porto from 2002 to 2013 and led the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata) from 2018 to 2022. Known for moderate and fiscally cautious positions, he remains an influential voice in PSD debates and national politics, so journalists and party members often cite his views.
- 2026: Minister of Environment and Energy
- Party: Social Democratic Party (PSD), Partido Social Democrata
- Politician, mechanical engineer, academic
Maria da Graça Carvalho, the Energy Minister, is a Portuguese engineer and politician affiliated with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) who has served as a Member of the European Parliament and held government roles connected to science and higher education policy. Her work on research and EU policy can affect funding and regulation that matter to professionals and students living in Portugal.
