“We are one people, one nation”: Seguro celebrates victory in the first round

Even though he was hoarse, António José Seguro gave a speech lasting more than 10 minutes, where he appealed to all “democrats, progressives and humanists” to join him, for “those who sow hatred and division among the Portuguese” in the second round.

“We are one people, one nation, one Portugal. Plural, inclusive, respectful of each person’s freedoms and supportive of our common needs.”

That’s how António José Seguro began his victory speech in the first round of the presidential elections.

“I thank from the bottom of my heart every Portuguese woman and every Portuguese person who voted for me. I will know how to honor your vote and vote for trust”, said the candidate who is now advancing to the second round against André Ventura.

“I am free. I live without ties”

“I received votes from all political camps, which further reinforces the independent nature of this candidacy. I’m free. I live without ties. And so I will act as president of the Republic (…) This is not a partisan candidacy nor will it ever be. It’s the home of all Democrats,” he assured.

Demarcating himself from his opponent in the second round, the socialist invited “all democrats, all progressives and all humanists to join us, to, united, defeat extremism and those who sow hatred and division among the Portuguese”

“I will be the president of all Portuguese people and I take this oath before you: I will be the president of all Portuguese, of all Portugueseloyal to the Constitution of the Republic, to take care of and improve what is good and to change what is bad”, he added.

The candidate who made moderation his weapon

After more than 10 years away from political lifeSeguro decided to advance to the presidential elections without waiting for the support of the Socialist Party, which he led.

On June 15, he presented his “no strings attached” candidacy, non-partisan and open to all Democrats.

It was only four months later that the PS moved towards formal support for this presidential race, a joint proposal from the party president, Charles Caesar and the secretary general, José Luís Carneirowhich called for the mobilization of socialists around this candidacy and actively participated in the campaign.

Seguro thus joined Mário Soares, Jorge Sampaio and Manuel Alegre like the names that the PS formally supported throughout its history in presidential campaigns and repaid the party’s trust with a victory in the first round, with a percentage greater than 31%.

The story of Seguro, the protagonist of the question “what’s the hurry?”

António José Martins Seguro was born on March 11, 1962 in Penamacor. He is married and has two children.

He has a master’s degree in Political Science, from ISCTE-IUL, and a degree in International Relations, from the Autonomous University of Lisbon.

After occupying several public positions – member of the Government, deputy or MEP, among others – Seguro retired from political life after the resignation of PS secretary general, in September 2014, following the defeat of the primary elections against Antonio Costa.

“What’s the hurry?” is one of the phrases that stuck most to his skina response to journalists in January 2013 about when its management intended to propose a date for the PS congress.

Referring to the status of “base activist” after leaving the leadership of the PS, which he held between 2011 and 2014, the presidential candidate He dedicated himself to his university classes and his business and remained almost silent on political issues over the last decadewith very rare exceptions.

In November last year, in an interview with TVI/CNN that preceded his weekly commentary space on that station, , but he ruled out returning to party life.

On the day the new parliament took office, Seguro dispelled his doubts and announced that he would be a candidate to succeed Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, without waiting for the support of the PS.

Moderation, consensus and compromises These are words he frequently uses to describe his way of being in politics and in life.