2026 Portuguese presidential election Portuguese citizens vote in the first round of the presidential election between 11 candidates to succeed incumbent Marcelo Rebelo...

The leader of a hard-right populist party placed second in Portugal’s presidential election Sunday in a stunning outcome, according to near-complete results.

Presidential candidate Andre Ventura, of the populist Chega party, casts his ballot in Portugal’s presidential election at a polling station in Lisbon, Sunday, Jan.

Presidential candidate Antonio Jose Seguro, of the center-left Socialist Party, delivers a speech at his campaign closing rally ahead of Sunday’s presidential election, in Lisbon, Friday, Jan.

A man folds his ballot as he votes in Portugal’s presidential election at a polling station in Lisbon, Sunday, Jan.

Presidential candidate Luis Marques Mendes, from the center-right Social Democratic Party, with his wife Rosa Sofia Salazar, gestures to supporters while campaigning for Sunday’s presidential election, in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Jan.

With almost 98% of votes counted, André Ventura, leader of the Chega (Enough) party that he founded less than seven years ago, captured 24% of the vote and placed second behind center-left Socialist candidate António José Seguro who led with almost 31%.

They will face off in a second-round ballot between the two top candidates on Feb.

Ventura’s strong showing was another milestone in Europe’s shift to the far-right, as populist parties have got their hands on, or edged closer to, the levers of power in recent years.

Chega’s surge in public support made it the second-largest party in Portugal’s parliament last year, just six years after it was founded.

Ventura and his supporters have been emboldened by the broader rise to prominence of like-minded nationalist parties across Europe, such as in France, Germany, Italy and neighboring Spain.

Nine other candidates ran in a record field in the presidential election, but none came close to the more than 50% required for a first-round victory.

The winner will replace President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who has served the limit of two five-year terms.

The political importance lies in whether the issue moves from public comment into formal action, party response, court record, election authority notice or administrative decision.