During a televised debate focused on immigration, presidential candidate André Ventura claimed he had won the first round of the presidential election with 40 percent of the vote in France, Germany, and Belgium, a statement that does not align with official voting data. Ventura argued that immigration debates were biased and linked labour shortages to low wages and what he described as a culture of subsidies. He maintained that labour demand should not lead to population replacement and cited European countries as examples of outcomes Portugal should avoid. Within this context, he stated that his alleged electoral victories abroad demonstrated voter awareness of these issues. The comments drew attention due to their timing and scope, as they were presented as factual evidence during a live debate rather than as political interpretation or opinion.
Official figures published the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Internal Administration show a different distribution of votes among Portuguese citizens living abroad. Ventura did lead the overseas vote overall, securing 40.93 percent among emigrant voters and achieving results above 40 percent in Africa, the Americas, and Europe as a whole. However, the data indicates that his performance varied significantly country. In France, Ventura received 60.46 percent of the vote, placing him first. In Germany, he secured only 22.25 percent, while António José Seguro led with 36.16 percent. In Belgium, Ventura obtained 19.61 percent, with Seguro again finishing first on 38.93 percent. These results contradict the claim of consistent victories across the three countries cited.
Despite leading overall among Portuguese emigrants residing in Europe with 40.98 percent of the vote, Ventura’s first place finishes were limited to a small number of countries. According to the official breakdown, he ranked first only in Andorra, France, Luxembourg, Serbia, and Switzerland. In other regions, including Asia and Oceania, his support was considerably lower, not exceeding 16.65 percent, with Seguro leading in those areas. The discrepancy between Ventura’s debate statement and the official results highlights the importance of precise representation of electoral data during public political discussions, particularly in the context of a presidential campaign where credibility and factual accuracy play a central role in shaping voter perception.
