Moderate socialist elected for president

Moderate socialist Antonio Jose Seguro secured a landslide victory and a five-year term as Portugal’s president in a runoff vote on Sunday, beating his far-right, anti-establishment rival Andre Ventura.

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Mr Seguro, who received backing from prominent conservatives after the first round amid concerns over what many see as Mr Ventura’s populist, authoritarian tendencies, becomes the first Socialist head of state in 20 years, succeeding Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative, after two terms in office.

“The response the Portuguese people gave today, their commitment to freedom, democracy, and the future of our country, leaves me naturally moved and proud of our nation,” Mr Seguro, 63, told reporters.

A succession of storms in recent days failed to deter voters, with turnout at about the same level as in the first round on Jan 18, even though several small municipalities had to postpone voting by a week due to floods.