Who is António José Seguro, winner of the primary spherical of the presidential elections in Portugal | EUROtoday

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António José Seguroa number one member of the Socialist Party, received the primary spherical of the crowded Portuguese presidential elections with 31.1% of the votes. For the primary time since 1986 no candidate has exceeded the brink of fifty% of the votes within the first spherical, so Seguro should face the run-off with Andre Venturachief of the far-right “Chega” social gathering, which obtained 23.5% of the votes.

Education and political profession

Seguro is taken into account a reasonable socialist, typically criticized on the left for his positions deemed too centrist. His victory within the first spherical comes after an election marketing campaign with out sensationalismin distinction to that of “Chega”, a lot criticized for its provocative tones.

Born in 1962was born in Penamacor, a small city within the Portuguese hinterland on the border with Spain. From a younger age he actively participated in political life, getting into the youth part of the Socialist Party, of which he quickly turned basic secretary.

In 1991 he was elected to Parliament for the primary time and since 1995 he has held varied roles throughout the governments of António Guterrestogether with Minister of Youth and Deputy Prime Minister. From 1999 to 2001 he was a member of European Parliamenta job from which he resigned to return to nationwide politics.

In 2011 he turned secretary of the Socialist Party, taking on from José Sócrates, who was additionally prime minister on the time. Seguro remained on the helm of the social gathering till 2014, when, after a disappointing end result within the European elections, the then mayor of Lisbon Antonio Costa defeats him within the first social gathering primaries.