In the aftermath of the presidential first round, several defeated candidates have signalled how the contest will shape up. Catarina Martins, António Filipe and Jorge Pinto have declared support for António José Seguro in the second round, consolidating a bloc of endorsements. Marques Mendes, who finished fifth, said he bears no grudges, while Gouveia e Melo vowed to keep serving the country, positioning himself as a continuity-minded figure. Cotrim de Figueiredo responded with pointed criticism of Montenegro, underlining a personalise­d element to the post‑election rhetoric and potential tensions within the opposition landscape.