Correio da Manhã/CMTV coverage finds unusually high motivation among emigrant voters this election, with TV crews following voting at Portuguese consulates and polling stations abroad. Higher turnout overseas could be consequential in a close race and may strain consular services on busy days. Those voting from abroad should check consulate arrangements and confirm their polling location and required ID well ahead of time.

Expresso and Observador report that, under constitutional rules, the successor to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will be sworn into office on 9 March — the same inauguration date used by his recent predecessors since 1986. The fixed date means the transfer of presidential duties is scheduled regardless of interim arrangements after the election. Those following the campaign or official ceremonies should note the 9 March timetable.

A concise, analytical guide to voting in Sunday’s presidential election: who is eligible to vote, when polling stations are open, what you need to bring, whether you can use your own pen, what to do if you make a mistake on your ballot, and rules about bringing children or carers into the polling station. Also covers guidance for expat voters and common FAQs to help you vote confidently and correctly on election day.

Público summarises practical voting information for the presidential ballot: polling stations are open from 08:00 to 19:00 across Portugal and voters must bring a photo ID such as the national ID card (cartão de cidadão), citizen card/identity document (BI), passport or driving licence. Voters can confirm their polling location via the electoral register (recenseamento.pt), by sending SMS to 3838 or contacting the official helpline. Residents who are unsure where to vote should check recenseamento.pt before heading to the polls.

Update: Multiple outlets report that polls opened today with more than 11 million registered voters expected to take part and a record 11 candidates on the ballot; coverage notes stations opened at 08:00 in mainland Portugal and Madeira, while voting in the Azores starts one hour later.

Many emigrants are effectively disenfranchised because presidential voting is strictly in person, forcing citizens abroad to travel hundreds of kilometres to reach polling stations. As a result, abstention among the diaspora consistently exceeds 90%. The practical burdens—time, cost and mobility—raise equity and representation concerns, skew electoral participation towards residents and those with resources to travel, and may distort mandates. The situation highlights a policy trade‑off between electoral integrity and accessibility and strengthens arguments for reforms such as postal ballots, expanded consular voting, secure electronic options or mobile polling. Any reform would need to weigh logistical complexity, security and public trust against the democratic imperative to include citizens abroad.

Reporting from Público finds many emigrants must travel hundreds of kilometres to reach Portuguese diplomatic missions to vote, using consulates (consulados) for passports, citizen cards and electoral participation. The piece profiles voters who combine document services and ballots at consular posts and highlights the travel burden for residents abroad who lack nearby polling locations. Those living overseas should check their designated consulate and travel plans well ahead of polling days.

Marques Mendes again urged supporters to believe in advancing to the second round. The candidate finishes his campaign with a rally and a youth event in Lisbon.

Público reports that Portuguese citizens living in Brazil who want to vote in Portugal's presidential election must attend Portuguese consulates (consulados) or the embassy (embaixada) in Brazil to cast their ballot. The note highlights consular voting procedures for expatriates rather than postal or remote voting alternatives. Portuguese nationals abroad, especially dual nationals in Brazil, should confirm their consulate's opening hours and required ID before election day.

Campaigners made their final appeals across the country as the presidential campaign wound down, with most candidates concentrating events in Lisbon ahead of voting on 18 January. Outlets report eleven candidates criss‑crossing the country and close polling in some matchups, increasing the chance of a second round (segunda volta) if no candidate wins an absolute majority. Voters and teams should check polling logistics and opening hours for Sunday, and watch for any late endorsements or tactical appeals that could influence tight races.

Update: Major outlets provided minute‑by‑minute live coverage and in‑depth wrap pieces on the campaign's last day — including Público predictions, ECO's 50‑image campaign gallery, Observador behind‑the‑scenes reporting and Correio da Manhã's review of five defining cases — while some outlets note 11 active campaigners on the road though 13 names appear on some ballot papers.

Experts told Lusa and national outlets that emigrant voting could have a larger impact than in previous presidential contests, as turnout patterns and narrow margins make overseas ballots more decisive. Historically lower in influence, emigrant turnout this time could tip close races or affect which candidates progress to a second round. Portuguese citizens abroad should confirm registration and polling or postal-vote arrangements with their consulate or local authorities well before Sunday.

Analysts presented multiple plausible second‑round (segunda volta) scenarios that would shape alliances and the tone of the presidency after 18 January, with different matchups signalling varied policy directions and voter priorities. Coverage notes that each scenario would prompt distinct endorsement dynamics and tactical voting decisions in the days after the first round. Those tracking the election outcome should watch candidate statements and party endorsements closely for signals about post‑vote alignments.

On the penultimate day of a Porto‑focused campaign, Mendes — the candidate backed by the PSD and CDS — intensified calls for voters to concentrate their ballots next Sunday, warning that the result must not be left to chance. He framed the vote as decisive for who will occupy Belém and criticised the broader presidential campaign as lacking substantive policy ideas, arguing it is time to end an empty contest and consolidate support behind a clear alternative. The intervention underlines a tactical push for vote consolidation and a critique of opponents’ absence of coherent presidential proposals.

The presidential campaign skirted constitutional debate, focusing on policy and partisan positioning more suited to a head-of-government race than a head-of-state contest. António José Seguro — the Socialist-backed candidate — presents himself as the moderate alternative and argues the Constitution need not be revised, only respected; meanwhile Luís Montenegro will run as his party’s candidate. The piece argues the Republic needs a president who acts as a moderator, respects institutional limits and upholds the separation of powers.

A DN/Aximage poll finds Socialist candidate Seguro leading Ventura by 20 percentage points in a hypothetical second-round (run-off) contest. Commentary in the piece highlights tactical voting for Seguro to block the right, the extreme or the current government, warns that a Ventura vs Cotrim run-off would be damaging for the right, and reports Ventura dismissing calls for Montenegro’s backing while claiming stronger polling levels.

In under 24 hours Cotrim de Figueiredo’s campaign was rocked by two controversies — a dispute linked to Ventura’s place in the second round and an allegation of harassment — prompting intense media and commentator reaction. A Catholic University poll that places Cotrim third, despite his insistence he can contest the second round, provided immediate relief and helped dissipate some of the political damage. Commentators including Miguel Santos Carrapatoso, Carlos Rodrigues and Bruno Batista framed the episode as a pivotal, potentially career-defining moment: Rodrigues argued Cotrim never sought the presidency, while Batista called the previous day a disastrous political mistake. The net effect is a campaign bruised but not decisively derailed, with the poll softening public fallout even as scrutiny and debate continue.

Seguro says he is aiming to finish first in the first round to prevent the so-called 'extremist' candidate, notably André Ventura, from reaching the run-off. He has raised his target from simply qualifying for the second round to topping it, reframing the race as a showdown between 'democrats' and 'extremism' and attempting to reshape voter choice. The move comes as a PS‑backed candidate also appears well placed to contest the presidency, increasing the strategic importance of securing first place in round one.

Day nine of the Tracking Poll, reported by Pedro Benevides, shows a growing three-way dynamic in the Portuguese presidential race: António José Seguro, André Ventura and João Cotrim de Figueiredo are pulling ahead of Henrique Gouveia e Melo and Luís Marques Mendes. The pattern suggests the contest may crystallise into a three-way fight in the final campaign days, and — with the exception of Chega's leader — most main contenders have yet to secure full backing from their own bases.

Cotrim de Figueiredo faced a punishing day after he declined to rule out endorsing André Ventura in a potential second round of the presidential election and was further hit by an allegation of harassment that he denies. The refusal to categorically exclude an endorsement has sparked controversy because it complicates his positioning in a fragmented centre-left electorate and risks alienating voters who oppose Ventura’s platform. The harassment claim, regardless of its veracity, intensifies media scrutiny and could distract the campaign at a critical moment. Strategically, Cotrim may be seeking to keep options open for post‑first‑round negotiations, but the short‑term effect is likely to be reputational damage and increased pressure from opponents and allies to clarify his stance.

João Cotrim de Figueiredo’s campaign, which had been gaining momentum, suffered a serious setback after a strategic misstep on second-round strategy and the resurfacing of a harassment allegation on social media. By not ruling out support for Ventura, Cotrim exposed himself to attacks and fractured the narrative of steady progress; the harassment allegation — reportedly known within Iniciativa Liberal for two years — compounded the damage and prompted him to decry ‘low‑level’ and ‘dirty’ politics. The episode shifted the campaign’s focus onto Cotrim personally, energised opponents and risked undoing recent gains as rivals consolidated backing ahead of a possible second round.

On the ninth day of the official presidential campaign most candidates focused their activities in Portugal’s interior, campaigning across almost the entire mainland. The concentration in rural and regional areas indicates a deliberate strategy to court voters outside major urban centres, raise visibility in less-served communities and address local issues that could prove decisive in a fragmented race. Political observers interpret the interior push as an effort to broaden appeal beyond traditional strongholds and capture swing support.

The article argues that the current presidential election process effectively disenfranchises some Portuguese citizens living abroad, meaning the incoming President will not represent all nationals. It analyses practical and legal barriers facing the diaspora, the democratic and legitimacy implications of unequal voting access, and points to reforms (expanded consular services, remote voting, legislative change) needed to ensure equal political participation for expatriates.

With the campaign entering its final week, António José Seguro has shifted from leftward appeals to target centrist and moderate voters, presenting himself as a 'calm force' who would be a 'courageous' but not 'irresponsible' president. The move is framed as a strategic pivot to neutralise perceptions that he is insecure and to broaden his appeal while he remains well placed in the polls. The approach balances promises of principled leadership with a deliberate emphasis on stability, but risks alienating his left‑wing base even as it seeks centre ground.

During a tense election campaign swing through Ovar, São João da Madeira and Lamego, AD-backed candidate Marques Mendes publicly challenged Health Minister Ana Paula Martins to “show up and explain” mounting problems in the National Health Service, notably failings in emergency departments. Mendes, accompanied by two ministers and supported at events by Porto mayor Rui Moreira, pressed for direct public explanations as the health portfolio becomes a campaign battleground; the minister already has a public engagement scheduled. Elsewhere on the campaign trail, André Ventura “survived” an incident in Aveiro—famously described as a "chuva de cavacas"—and later thanked supporters in Viseu's so-called “Cavaquistão,” underscoring how confrontational moments and popular gestures are shaping voter perceptions. The episodes highlight healthcare policy and political accountability as central issues in the race and illustrate how personalised campaign incidents are influencing public debate.

Day 6 of the tracking poll reshuffles the leading pack: António Seguro returns to first place, André Ventura is overtaken and drops to third, while João Cotrim de Figueiredo continues to climb and for the first time joins the leading pair in contention for a second-round spot. The instant poll records a five-way technical tie among top contenders, reflecting continued volatility. The aggregated three‑day sample (7–9 Jan 2026) comprises 608 telephone interviews (CATI), drawn via randomly generated mobile numbers with landlines used when necessary; sampling quotas covered gender, three age brackets and 20 geographic strata. At a 95.5% confidence level the maximum margin of error is ±4.06%; 1,201 contact attempts produced a 50.62% response rate and undecided voters were distributed proportionally. Campaigns responded briskly: Mendes’s team dismisses the polls, insisting he will finish first and advance to the second round, while Rangel predicted a surprise from Mendes; columnist Miguel Esteves Cardoso noted an unpredictable, anti‑poll restlessness among voters. Technical direction was by Rita Marques da Silva and the full technical sheet has been deposited with ERC for consultation.

Polling and electoral data indicate a high probability of a second round in the upcoming Portuguese presidential election — an uncommon outcome in Portugal’s recent democratic history. If a run-off is confirmed, many young people who turn 18 between the first and second rounds (including those identified as Vera and Lourenço) will only be eligible to vote in the second round, because eligibility is determined by age on each voting date. The situation highlights how timing and legal cut-offs can affect youth participation in closely scheduled elections.

André Ventura says he is confident he will advance to the second round of the presidential election and has publicly pressed Prime Minister Montenegro to declare which candidate he would back in a potential runoff against António José Seguro. The move is a calculated challenge designed to force political alignment, provoke a public response from the government and frame the contest as a binary choice that could consolidate Ventura’s support. It signals an early effort to shape campaign narratives, test opponents’ coalitions and put pressure on centrist figures to take clear positions ahead of the first-round vote.

Iniciativa Liberal’s presidential candidate, Cotrim de Figueiredo, is portrayed as a ‘catalyst’ — a figure who can accelerate political change without being consumed by it. PSD veteran José Miguel Júdice argues the candidate’s street‑level campaigning and outsider manner give him the potential to galvanise voters and disrupt the centre‑right landscape. The profile examines how that activist style and the backing from liberal and PSD circles could help him broaden appeal, while flagging the risks: limited governing experience, questions about coalition durability and whether street politics can translate into institutional influence.

António José Seguro urged supporters to temper their euphoria, stressing that “nothing is won” until all votes are counted and the race is decided. His caution came amid a heated campaign atmosphere, with rival candidate Gouveia e Melo publicly lambasting Seguro as “shameless” after receiving explicit backing from Rui Rio — a development that underlines sharp interpersonal tensions and the high stakes of a closely contested presidential vote. The intervention is aimed at preserving discipline among backers and managing expectations as results approach.

Chega leader André Ventura renewed his challenge to the PSD and its leader Luís Montenegro to declare whether they would back him or the Socialist candidate António José Seguro in a hypothetical presidential runoff. Ventura vowed that if he failed to reach the second round he would do “everything” to stop a Socialist from becoming President, framing the contest as a choice over what idea of the Republic should be represented in Belém and warning against a President who would, in his view, threaten the economy and individual freedoms. The statement increases pressure on the centre‑right to clarify alliances and highlights how the presidential race is being used to test party loyalties and shape broader political narratives ahead of national contests.

Presidential candidate André Pestana said Portugal should prioritise domestic social and environmental needs rather than increased defence spending, declaring he does not want “a single euro more for NATO”. He argues the fight should be against low wages and pensions, environmental degradation and the deterioration of public services, and proposes that funds currently transferred to private health providers be redirected into the National Health Service (SNS), claiming a large share of the state health budget is going to private companies.

At a campaign dinner in Lousã (Coimbra), presidential candidate Luís Marques Mendes presented a deliberate profile of a ‘firm but calm’ Presidency in Belém, arguing that steadiness and measured leadership are what the office requires. Positioning himself as a reassuring, experienced alternative, Mendes signalled an appeal to centrist and undecided voters and claimed he is in ‘pole position’ to reach the second round — an implicit campaign strategy to consolidate support ahead of a likely two‑stage contest. The remarks underscore a campaign focused on stability, competence and broadening appeal rather than polarising rhetoric.

Presidential candidate André Pestana argues that funds currently routed to private healthcare providers should instead be invested in the NHS. He says greater NHS investment would strengthen health professionals' careers and deliver practical improvements — for example, better ambulances available sooner — reducing reliance on private sector services.