When an election produces results not seen in decades, it is a shock to the system. Andre Ventura’s second place finish in the first round of the Portuguese presidential election was just such a shock. The leader of the national populist Chega party broke through the previous duopoly of the Social Democratic Party and the Socialist Party.

This result forced a surprise matchup against the Socialist Party’s António José Seguro. While Seguro came out on top in the second (and final) round of Portugal’s presidential election on Feb. 8, the election still holds valuable lessons for European conservatives in 2026.

Portugal’s presidential election, like many in Europe, has two major differences from American presidential elections.

First is the variety of candidates. Not only did 11 candidates from parties across the political spectrum compete in the first round, but multiple candidates had a credible shot at the second round.

Second, unlike America’s first past the post electoral system, the winning presidential candidate in Portugal (and most European countries) must win 50%+1 vote to win, and if no candidate achieves this in the first round, a second-round election is called.

Over the last year, André Ventura has led the Chega party into the limelight in Portuguese politics as they became the leading opposition party in Parliament following the May 18, 2025 election in line with a wave of conservative victories in Europe.

In this context, Ventura improved on his 2021 presidential election performance in 2026 and catapulted Chega into final contention for the presidency for the first time. With over 99% of the vote counted, Ventura came second to Seguro with 33.18% of the vote.

Though he fell short in the second round of the presidential election, Ventura established Chega as the leading party on the right in Portugal by receiving a higher percentage of the votes than Portugal’s Democratic Alliance of the center-right won in the May parliamentary elections.

Despite controversy over his campaign rhetoric on immigration that led to the court-ordered removal of certain campaign posters, voters on the Right responded to his advocacy for conservative principles of sovereignty over immigration and bucking the mainstream elite parties that have governed Portugal for decades.

 This is one of the key lessons for conservative politicians in Europe: voters are trending towards the Right, but are fed up with established parties’ milquetoast policy approaches and unwillingness to tighten immigration policies.

Yet, while Ventura’s success in the first round underlines the need for political parties to remain responsive to voter’s concerns, his failure in the second round sounds a warning note for conservatives. Conservatives globally have learned the strength of partnership from prior progressive groupings as they develop policies, but they too often fail to unify in elections.

This was on display in Portugal over the past month as Ventura was the only representative of the political Right in the second round. Yet, other conservative Portuguese politicians actively endorsed the progressive candidate, António José Seguro, rather than leaving the choice to Portuguese voters. This pattern is a yellow flag for French supporters of the National Rally, who have repeatedly witnessed this dynamic in past elections.

There is also a warning from Lisbon for national populist parties in Europe: focusing on securing borders and offering an elite alternative gets you into the political conversation, but you must maintain credibility with voters across their major concerns to win.

In Portugal, affordability was a major theme in voter’s concerns, just like in America’s last election. Amid an explosion in tourism, among other factors, many Portuguese voters feel like home ownership is receding ever further out of sight. Unfortunately, this never became a central issue for Andre Ventura’s presidential campaign as he battled high unfavorable numbers beyond his base, allowing his progressive opponent António Seguro to claim the political high ground.

Even though European conservatives fell short in Lisbon to start the year, the valuable lessons from the episode could serve conservatives well in upcoming elections across the continent.

Chega’s unprecedented rise in Portuguese politics is a microcosm demonstrating that taking voters immigration concerns seriously and offering a credible alternative to failed past policies can build a coalition.

With more unity among conservative parties combined with policy responses to affordability and key voter concerns, 2026 could still be a year of possibility.

The post Lessons From Portugal for European Conservatives appeared first on The Daily Signal.

It goes without saying that this year’s Super Bowl was an absolute disaster. From the morally depraved and anti-American halftime show to the terrible commercials and boring gameplay, the NFL’s supposedly premier product was anything but. Yet, amid the failed spectacle was the bright spot brought about by Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, who […]

'FakeNews'

One Battle After Another director Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Johnny Greenwood are crybabying over the legal use of a piece of Phantom Thread score in the hit documentary Melania.

The post Nolte: Director Paul Thomas Anderson Crybabies over Legal Use of ‘Phantom Thread’ Score in ‘Melania’ appeared first on Breitbart.

From DuPage Policy Journal:

In his comments, Bekesha emphasized Judicial Watch’s legal work for parents, noting recent policy changes in Community Consolidated School District 181 as an example of successful grassroots action.

“It was an honor to speak alongside Riley Gaines at the Concerned Parents of Illinois Gala,” Bekesha told DuPage Policy Journal. “Kristina and her board have put together an incredible grassroots organization to embolden parents who want to stand up for what’s right for their kids. What they are accomplishing was obvious from the energy in the room.”

Judicial Watch is a Washington, D.C.-based conservative nonprofit legal watchdog that promotes government transparency, accountability and ethics through litigation. The organization also trains conservatives to use open records laws and publishes reports exposing official misconduct.

Last fall, following pressure from Concerned Parents of Illinois and legal support from Bekesha and Judicial Watch, D181 implemented a formal “Request to Opt Out of Curriculum Content” process, allowing parents to remove their children from classroom and library materials they consider inappropriate.

McCloy and Bekesha have emphasized the need for transparency, accountability, and parental consent in public education, noting advocacy efforts would continue within the district and beyond.

Read more here…

The post Riley Gaines headlines sold-out Concerned Parents of Illinois annual gala appeared first on Judicial Watch.

The NFL’s Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday night was a statement more than it was an attempt at entertainment. I will admit, I did not watch the halftime show. […]

The post The Super Bowl Halftime Show Is Exactly What the Left Wants America to Look Like appeared first on The Western Journal.

Monday on Fox Business Network's "Mornings with Maria," former Anheuser-Busch executive Anson Frericks applauded Budweiser's effort to "pivot" from the Dylan Mulvaney endorsement that lost his former employer market share. 

The post Former Anheuser-Busch Executive: Budweiser Super Bowl Ad a ‘Step in the Right Direction’ Post-Dylan Mulvaney appeared first on Breitbart.

Allison Gill is an ally of the Lawfare network and recently sat down for an interview with NSA whistleblower attorney Andrew Bakaj; the same attorney used by former CIA whistleblower Eric Ciaramella. This interview appears to be taking place after Bakaj revised his statements to The Guardian forcing them to rewrite the central claim of […]

The post NSA “Whistleblower” Attorney Andrew Bakaj Appears on Video Making False Claim About “Underlying Intercept” appeared first on The Last Refuge.

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Cuba’s government says international airlines can’t refuel on the island nation starting Monday.

Cuban authorities issued an official Notice to Airmen over the weekend, warning that kerosene shortages are affecting all of Cuba’s international airports, the Spanish news agency EFE reports.

The notice is good for one month, meaning international planes won’t be able to refuel in Cuba before March 11.

“JET A1 FUEL NOT AVBL,” the coded message states.

The notice affected nine Cuban airports. The majority of Cuba’s international flights connect the island to destinations in Florida, Mexico, Spain, or Panama, EFE reports.

Political leaders and experts predicted a fuel shortage in Cuba following the Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro at the beginning of January and its move to cut off Cuba from Venezuelan oil.

Until Jan. 3, Venezuela was the central financial support of Cuba, primarily through oil.

After the U.S. captured Maduro, President Donald Trump signed an executive order at the end of January imposing tariffs on imported goods from nations that supply oil to Cuba.

Trump has called Cuba a “failed nation,” and Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the Trump administration “would love to see the regime there change.”

“There’s no doubt about the fact that it would be of great benefit to the United States if Cuba was no longer governed by an autocratic regime,” Rubio recently said while testifying before members of Congress.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel is the public face of Cuba’s dictatorship, but former President Raúl Castro retains significant power over the regime.

Díaz-Canel said Thursday that Cuba is willing to engage with the U.S. in negotiations but also warned that “surrender isn’t an option for Cuba.”

While Díaz-Canel told the press that Cuba is not “in a state of war,” he added that the island nation is “preparing ourselves in case we have to move to a state of war.”

The post Cuba Makes Major Fuel Shortage Announcement appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Democrat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill on Friday legalizing assisted suicide for terminally ill New Yorkers with less than six months to live. 

The post New York Becomes 13th State to Legalize Assisted Suicide appeared first on Breitbart.

'Do not otherize us'

'Starmer’s position is untenable'

Members of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's cabinet have circled the wagons around their embattled boss, as he faces calls to resign.

The post Cabinet Circles Wagons Around Starmer as Scottish Labour Leader Calls for PM’s Resignation appeared first on Breitbart.