António José Martins Seguro was born on 11 March 1962 in Penamacor, a town of which he is an Honorary Citizen and where he acquired, from an early age, a deep appreciation for community, hard work, and solidarity. He is the youngest of three children of Domingos Sanches Seguro (1926-2017) and Maria do Céu Martins Seguro (1927-2011), whose examples of dedication and integrity shaped his sense of responsibility and public service.
He is married to Maria Margarida Nave Nunes Maldonado Freitas (2001) and has two children, Maria (2002) and António (2006), with whom he resides in Caldas da Rainha.
He was educated in Penamacor (primary school, Escola Preparatória Ribeiro Sanches, and Externato Nossa Senhora do Incenso) and completed his final year of secondary education in Castelo Branco (Escola Industrial e Comercial).
He holds a degree in International Relations from the Autonomous University of Lisbon, a Master’s degree in Political Science from ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE–IUL) and is currently a doctoral candidate in Political Science at the School of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Lisbon (ISCSP–UL).
Prior to his election as President of the Republic, he served for nineteen years as a university lecturer in the fields of Political Science and International Relations at the Autonomous University of Lisbon (UAL) and, for nine years, at the School of Social and Political Sciences (ISCSP – University of Lisbon).
Alongside his well-known passion for teaching and engaging in dialogue with students, António José Seguro devoted a significant part of his career to academic research and reflection, with particular emphasis on studying the quality of democracy, the role of assemblies within systems of government, ethics in public life, citizenship, and European integration.
He began his political activity at a young age, emerging as a leading figure in several civic and political initiatives, ranging from socially oriented youth associations in his home town to serving as President of the Portuguese National Youth Council and of the European Youth Forum.
In February 1981, he joined the Socialist Party, within which he held various positions, notably Secretary-General of the Socialist Youth, Director of the Policy Studies Office, and Secretary-General. He also served as President of the PS Parliamentary Group in the Assembleia da República.
He was a Member of the Assembleia da República for several legislatures, establishing himself as an advocate of democratic dialogue. In 2007, he led a reform of the Portuguese Parliament, which profoundly transformed the functioning of both the Portuguese Parliament and political system, strengthening governmental scrutiny by enhancing the oversight powers of the opposition and rendering the Assembleia da República more transparent and effective in the legislative process.
He also served as a Member of the European Parliament, consolidating a pro-European vision grounded in solidarity between States and in the affirmation of Portugal within the common European project. He acted as co-rapporteur of the report on the Treaty of Nice.
He was President of the Municipal Assembly of Penamacor and a member of the Municipal Assembly of Gouveia. He served as a member of the 13th (1995-1999) and 14th (2001-2002) Constitutional Governments and of the Council of State (2011-2014).
As a political leader, he fostered a culture of responsibility, transparency, and high ethical standards, underscoring that citizens’ trust is the greatest asset of public life. He fought against social inequalities, championed policies aimed at creating opportunities, and affirmed the centrality of human dignity in all public decisions.
For António José Seguro, politics has meaning only insofar as it tangibly improves people’s lives, protects the most vulnerable and addresses injustice.
Between 2016 and 2026, he pursued a career in business, investing in agricultural and tourism activities in his home town.
His trajectory has been marked by a strong connection to his roots and to people, by a commitment to developing the country’s interior regions, and by a vision of development that brings together economic growth, social justice, and environmental sustainability. His career combines political experience at local, national, and European levels, academic reflection, and business activity, illustrating an integrated vision of Portugal and of its role in Europe and the World.
António José Seguro was elected President of the Portuguese Republic on 8 February 2026 with 3 502 613 votes – the highest number of votes ever obtained by a candidate in a presidential election – corresponding to 66.84 % of the votes cast.
In assuming the Presidency of the Republic, António José Seguro brings with him a lifetime dedicated to public service, grounded in strong ethical values, a humanist vision of politics, and an unwavering commitment to freedom, democracy, and the dignity of every citizen.
