“I am a candidate for President of the Republic, and I do not comment on current events. What is fundamental is that the country has project-oriented governments and not transient governments,” said António José Seguro.
Seguro was responding to questions about the Prime Minister’s statements, who increased the salary goals for the country on Saturday, now mentioning a 1,600-euro minimum wage and a 3,000-euro average, a day after citing lower figures.
The PS-supported candidate argued that it’s necessary “to move from managing the current situation to strategic options” to solve “the serious problems” the country is facing.
“We need to have a more competitive economy, we need to address our population’s aging, we need to end the indignity of wage inequality between men and women. There are many urgencies, and I am here to help solve the problems of the Portuguese, focused on solutions,” he emphasized.
During the occasion, Seguro was also asked about Saturday’s debate, where he was opposed by Catarina Martins, who attempted to associate herself with PS figures Mário Soares and Jorge Sampaio.
The candidate and former secretary-general of the Socialists did not comment directly; instead, he invited “all democrats, progressives, and humanists to join [his] candidacy” to achieve the necessary changes in Portugal.
“There is a lot wrong in our country, many Portuguese struggle to have a family doctor, to undergo surgery, many young people have difficulties finding a decent job or accessing housing, and many people cannot cope with the high cost of living. That is why I am a candidate, not to keep things the same, but to help change our country for the better,” he remarked.
António José Seguro spoke to journalists upon arriving at the commemorative session “Mário Soares — the words and images” in Lisbon, marking the day the PS founder, former President of the Republic and Prime Minister, would have turned 101.
Regarding Mário Soares, the presidential hopeful stated that the PS founder is “one of the most important figures in democratic life.”
Seguro also mentioned his presence at the initiative because he was invited and wanted “to associate himself with a rightful tribute to Mário Soares, who would be 101 today, and recall his fundamental role in the fight for freedom in Portugal, for the consolidation of democracy, and for Portugal’s integration into the European Union.”
Speaking briefly to the media, Seguro refused to answer additional questions.
The presidential elections are scheduled for January 18, 2026.
This marks the 12th time (including the two rounds of the 1986 elections) that Portuguese citizens will choose the President of the Republic under a democratic regime since 1976.
Among those announcing their candidacies for the presidential elections are António Filipe (supported by the PCP), António José Seguro (backed by the PS), André Ventura (supported by Chega), Catarina Martins (supported by the BE), Henrique Gouveia e Melo, João Cotrim Figueiredo (supported by the Liberal Initiative), Jorge Pinto (supported by Livre), and Luís Marques Mendes (endorsed by the PSD and CDS-PP).
According to the candidacy portal, run by the Ministry of Internal Administration, there are another 31 citizens gathering signatures for a presidential bid.
