“I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the more than 9,500 people who subscribed to my candidacy, as well as to those who collected signatures in person. So many dedicated their free time to gathering signatures so that this candidacy could be realized,” said Catarina Martins to journalists, following the submission of several boxes of signatures at the Palácio Ratton.
The candidate backed by the Bloco de Esquerda also expressed appreciation to the national sponsor, musician and composer António Pinho Vargas, highlighting him as “an intellectual who thinks so well about democracy and the challenges of our time.”
This afternoon, the necessary applications to formalize the candidacy of Henrique Gouveia e Melo are also scheduled to be submitted.
The presidential elections are set for January 18, 2026.
This marks the 12th occasion (including the two rounds of the 1986 elections) since 1976 that Portuguese voters have been called to democratically elect the President of the Republic.
Among those who have announced their candidacies for the presidential elections are António Filipe (backed by the PCP), António José Seguro (supported by the PS), André Ventura (supported by Chega), Catarina Martins (supported by BE), Henrique Gouveia e Melo, João Cotrim Figueiredo (supported by the Liberal Initiative), Jorge Pinto (supported by Livre), and Luís Marques Mendes (supported by the PSD).
