Gouveia e Melo, the military officer with a 'cold' reputation who faltered in the race for Belém
PROFILE || From the depths of the ocean - where he spent more than 20,000 hours - to the stratosphere of the polls - where he at times polled ahead of Passos Coelho or Guterres. Gouveia e Melo, the best-known military figure from the pandemic, did not fulfil his dream of reaching Belém. The former head of the Navy finished in fourth place with just over 12% of the vote.
João Cotrim de Figueiredo, 'the liberal'
In 2019 he made his debut in Parliament as the sole MP of a little-known party. Seven years later he is a candidate for Belém (the presidential seat at Belém Palace). What story does the trajectory of this 'liberal' candidate in these presidential elections tell?
Cotrim de Figueiredo never wanted to be President of the Republic
By Carlos Rodrigues
António José Seguro, 'The Returnee'
He tried to be unifying, but ended up divisive both inside and outside the Socialist Party (PS). After 10 years away from public life, he 'returned to unite'. What story does the journey of this 'returnee' in this presidential race tell?
Seguro: No car, no debts and owner of three companies
A decade away from politics has taken the PS-backed presidential candidate into other professional fields, such as university teaching and a career as a business owner in the tourism sector.
Luís Marques Mendes, 'The Veteran'
He denied until the end that he intended to stand, but he was 'one of the worst-kept secrets of Portuguese politics'. What story does the career of this 'veteran' candidate in the presidential race tell?
Marques Mendes — the once-young mayor from Minho who dreams of being President
There are figures in Portuguese politics who, even after they step down from the stage, continue to shape the narrative. Luís Marques Mendes is one of them, having become an unavoidable presence in Portuguese political life for almost five decades.