António José Seguro and André Ventura faced off in the only televised head‑to‑head before the 8 February presidential run‑off in a 75‑minute debate broadcast on SIC, TVI and RTP (live coverage by Expresso). Seguro sought to present himself as “presidential material”, condemning the state of healthcare as “unacceptable”, while Ventura adopted a party‑leader posture, attacked Seguro as a “kind of Queen of England” and tried to tie him to the PS legacy. Despite their contrasting styles, both candidates united in rejecting the Government’s labour law, highlighting policy faultlines and the choice voters face for a more demanding presidency.
Seguro says the situation in healthcare is "unacceptable"; Ventura accuses opponent of being a "kind of Queen of England"
Context & Explainers

Chega ("Enough") is a Portuguese far-right populist party founded in 2019 by André Ventura. It positions itself as an anti-establishment movement against what it calls a "rotten and corrupt system" of PS-PSD dominance. The party surged from 1.3% in 2019 to 22.8% in May 2025, becoming parliament's second-largest force with 60 seats. Chega's core platform emphasizes strict immigration control—ending automatic CPLP residency, deporting non-independent immigrants, implementing job-market quotas, and requiring five-year social security contributions before benefit access. It advocates radical constitutional reform, including reducing parliament to 100 members, abolishing the prime minister position for a presidential system, and dismantling public healthcare. Law-and-order policies include life imprisonment and chemical castration proposals.
The party is defined by inflammatory anti-Romani rhetoric, with Ventura convicted multiple times for discrimination. Chega maintains international alignments with European far-right figures including Marine Le Pen, Santiago Abascal, and Matteo Salvini. Mainstream Portuguese parties, including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's government, have imposed a cordon sanitaire, refusing coalition with Chega despite its parliamentary strength.
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Other news coverage of this topic
- Cotrim Figueiredo suggests he will vote for Seguro in the run-off • Correio da Manhã
- The full debate between André Ventura and António José Seguro • CNN Portugal
- Who wants to be President? • Público
- From the Seguro–Ventura debate only one certainty emerged: Montenegro will have a more 'demanding' President • Expresso
- Seguro won the first debate against André Ventura. Yesterday, the same happened again. • Correio da Manhã
- The Voice on the Ground • Correio da Manhã
- Single head-to-head debate between the Socialist Party's legacy and 'right-wing primaries' • Observador
- Misunderstanding? • Observador
- Between Seguro, Ventura and Passos • Observador
- António José Seguro is not a bad president • Observador
- Health, immigration and what other Presidents said: the facts from the debate between Seguro and Ventura • Público
- An (A)Ventura, an Insurance Policy and an Annulled Vote • Observador
- Socialism or Freedom • Observador
- António José Seguro is a guarantor of liberty, an heir to Mário Soares • CNN Portugal
- 'Play it safe' or dare to change? • Observador
- Debate between António José Seguro and André Ventura offers no surprises for the few undecided voters • Público
- In this election, André Ventura has definitively secured control of the right • CNN Portugal
- I heard António José Seguro say something I never thought I'd hear from him • CNN Portugal
- What The Polígrafo says about the Seguro vs. Ventura debate: Part 2 • CNN Portugal
- Who won the debate between André Ventura and António José Seguro? • Público
- "I don't agree with those who declared António José Seguro the winner": Rui Calafate examines the debate • CNN Portugal
- In the debate of 'mishmash politics', only rejection of the Government's labour law united Seguro and Ventura • Público
- The two moments when António José Seguro conducted mini-interviews with André Ventura • CNN Portugal
- André Ventura vs António José Seguro: listen here to the only debate of the presidential second round • Expresso
- Debate notes: Easy victory for Seguro over Ventura • Observador
- Nuno Afonso again refuses to vote for Ventura • Observador
- 2026 Presidential Election: Seguro beats Ventura in a familiar debate • ECO
- What Polígrafo says about the Seguro vs. Ventura debate: part 1 • CNN Portugal
- What Polígrafo says about the Seguro vs. Ventura debate • CNN Portugal
- Who won the big debate between António José Seguro and André Ventura? See the ratings from the CNN Portugal commentators • CNN Portugal
- Seguro won because everything stayed the same • Público
- Seguro criticises "hodgepodge policy" and Ventura leaves the debate "anguished": what was said in the final head-to-head • Correio da Manhã
- Seguro and Ventura agreed on labour law and health, and differed sharply on immigration, the constitution and justice • Dinheiro Vivo
- Seguro and Ventura separated by a sea of clicks and social media popularity • Público
- Health, labour law and immigration mark debate characterised by "patchwork politics" • Público
- Seguro wants to be 'president of all', Ventura the 'voice of those who have no voice' • ECO








