Former Secretary General of the Socialist Party, António José Seguro, has been sworn in as the new President of Portugal.
He vowed to faithfully fulfill his duties and to defend, support, and ensure the observance of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic. Seguro’s remarks at the ceremony were reported by EFE. The national anthem was then performed.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who became President of Portugal in 2016 and was re-elected in 2021. He was unable to run again because local law does not allow for three consecutive terms.
The presidential election in Portugal was held in two rounds. In the second round, the former Secretary General of the Socialist Party emerged victorious, receiving over 66% of the vote.
Seguro, 63, is a long-time politician, but has spent recent years working as a teacher. Born in 1962 in Penamacor, near the border with Spain, he studied international relations. From his youth, he was actively involved in the country’s political life, always remaining with the Socialist Party. He served in the government of António Guterres, now UN Secretary-General, and had the opportunity to serve as a Member of the European Parliament. From 2011 to 2014, he served as Secretary-General of the Socialist Party. He left this post after internal party elections, which were won by the then Lisbon incumbent, António Costa, who later became Prime Minister of Portugal and then President of the European Council.
The powers of the president, who is the guarantor of the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the state, are quite broad, but are sometimes reduced to mere representation. Among other things, he is the commander-in-chief and appoints the prime minister, taking into account election results. The President also has the power to dissolve the Assembly of the Republic (the unicameral parliament), veto laws, and pardon prisoners.
