The Lisboeta

Seguro urges caution as critics pile on

Saturday, 10 January 2026AI summary
Seguro urges caution as critics pile on

António José Seguro sought to temper supporters' enthusiasm by warning that 'nothing is won' despite positive polling, while former navy admiral Gouveia e Melo publicly criticised Seguro's conduct on the same day he counted on Rui Rio's support. The exchange illustrates rising tensions in the campaign and the presence of prominent voices weighing in on candidate behaviour. Expats following the campaign should note the competing narratives as they may influence undecided voters.

Context & Explainers

Who is António José Seguro?
  • 2026 Presidential Candidate (running as an independent)
  • Party: Former leader of Socialist Party (PS) Partido Socialista
  • Center left

Background:

António José Martins Seguro (born March 11, 1962, in Penamacor) is a lawyer, political scientist, and Socialist Party politician running for president in Portugal's January 18, 2026 election. He led Socialist Youth (1990-1994), served as MEP (1999-2001), was Minister Adjunct to PM António Guterres (2001-2002), and led the PS parliamentary group (2004-2005). Elected PS Secretary-General in 2011 with 68%, he led the opposition during Portugal's bailout era. In 2014, António Costa defeated him in party primaries by a landslide, prompting Seguro's resignation and decade-long retreat from politics. He returned in 2025, launching the movement UPortugal and announcing his presidential candidacy in June. He received official PS backing in October 2025. ​ Political Philosophy:

Seguro positions himself as representing a "modern and moderate" left, offering a progressive alternative to conservative candidates. He advocates for "financial responsibility but critical of austerity," attempting to reposition the PS at center-left. His campaign emphasizes institutional trust, efficient governance, and hope for a better future.

Who is Henrique Gouveia e Melo and how his military background shapes his candidacy
  • 2026 Presidential Candidate
  • Party: Independent
  • Retired Portuguese Navy officer
  • Former coordinator of Portugal's COVID-19 Vaccination Taskforce
  • Centrist pragmatist

Henrique Eduardo Passaláqua de Gouveia e Melo (born November 21, 1960, in Quelimane, Mozambique) is a retired Portuguese Navy Admiral running for president in the January 18, 2026 election as an independent candidate. He entered the Naval School in 1979 and built a 45-year military career, commanding submarines NRP Delfim and NRP Barracuda, the frigate NRP Vasco da Gama, and serving as Naval Commander (2017-2020) and Chief of Naval Staff (2021-2024). His national prominence surged in 2021 when he was appointed coordinator of Portugal's COVID-19 vaccination task force, which achieved the world's highest vaccination rates, earning him a spot on Jornal de Negócios' list of 50 Most Powerful People. He announced his presidential campaign on May 29, 2025, backed by the People's Monarchist Party. ​

Political Philosophy:

Gouveia e Melo positions himself as a "centrist pragmatist" focused on institutional balance, effective governance, and consensus-building. He advocates for demanding presidential oversight of democratic institutions without institutional opposition to government, emphasizing "institutional loyalty" paired with rigorous accountability. His platform prioritizes growth, social cohesion, and equitable development, rejecting ideology for pragmatic results-oriented leadership

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