Olá, bom dia! On this day in 1998, a former locksmith from a small village in the Ribatejo got the phone call every writer dreams of. José Saramago had won the Nobel Prize in Literature, and he is still the only writer in Portuguese ever to do so. Today’s sheet, Nº 8: José Saramago, is in the classroom, with four phrases for your next trip to the livraria (bookshop). One of them every expat needs: “Tem este livro em inglês?” (Do you have this book in English?) Watch out for “biblioteca”! It means library, not bookshop. Over to you: have you read any Saramago? Which one would you recommend to a beginner? Boas leituras! (Happy reading!) 📖

Hey! How are you doing? Is it HOT where you are? It's a beautiful day here in Sao Martinho do Porto (see pic), where a cool drink in the shade awaits you on our Marginal 😎 The Good Morning Portugal sabbatical continues as I develop both Portugal Talk Radio and the Portugal Foreigners' Forum, both of which are shaping up nicely. Have you been following Portugal's progress in the World Cup and has it been a useful way to connect with your local community? (See article) Herewith a selection of recent activity to inspire your best life here in Portugal, including: - @Bob Wenger's lovely insights on life in Portugal and 'Portuguese-ness' (more of these to follow) 👇 - Me, Natasha Donn & Paul Rees taking a look at recent news headlines 👇 - "I can help!" Lidia on NISS Numbers, integration & IEFP Portuguese language courses 👇 - Feeling thirsty and sun-kissed after a day on the beach? Here's @Johnny Cocktail's recipe for the perfect Porto Tónico 👇 Have a great weekend and thanks as ever for your continued support and interest. Please share revelations, milestones and any Portugal-related challenges that we can help with...

Foregoing a traditional meia de leite or galão and pastel de nata, it's a cappuccino and croissant (with mystery filling) for me in Bologna this morning...

The next Portuguese presidential election is scheduled for January 18th, 2026, when incumbent President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will finish his second and final term. A number of candidates have already entered the race, including Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, a well-regarded military official, and Luís Marques Mendes, a Social Democrat. Key information on the 2026 race: - Election date: The election will be held on 18th January 2026. - Incumbent not running: President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term.  Potential candidates and latest polling - According to a July 2025 Intercampus poll, the race appears to be competitive, with three main contenders in a technical tie for first place: - Henrique Gouveia e Melo: The retired admiral, praised for leading Portugal's COVID-19 vaccine rollout, has seen his poll numbers fall slightly but remains a top contender. He is currently running as an independent. - Luís Marques Mendes: Supported by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Marques Mendes has gained ground in recent polling, positioning himself as a strong rival to Gouveia e Melo. - António José Seguro: The former leader of the Socialist Party (PS) has entered the race and is now polling competitively, confirming a tight three-way race. - André Ventura: The leader of the far-right Chega party, who previously ran in 2021, is also in the race, though he trails the top three candidates in recent polls. - Other declared and potential candidates: Other figures who have entered the race or are considering a run include: João Cotrim de Figueiredo (Liberal Initiative); Mariana Mortágua (Left Bloc); António Filipe (CDU); António Sampaio da Nóvoa (academic); Rui Moreira (Mayor of Porto) and Vitorino Silva (RIR)  Impact of 2025 elections - Recent elections have seen significant political shifts that could influence the upcoming presidential vote: - Legislative Election (May 2025): The snap election resulted in the center-right Democratic Alliance (AD) winning but falling short of a majority. The far-right Chega party surged into second place, while the Socialist Party (PS) dropped to third. - Local Elections (October 2025): In local elections, the PSD won a majority in many key municipalities, while Chega secured its first three mayoral positions. The far-right party expanded its presence in municipal councils, but its overall result was less than some expected. 

Abstention rate ‘surprisingly low’: Portuguese rallied to this campaign says Natasha Donn... "Exit polls coming in an hour after polling stations closed have put António José Seguro as the clear winner of Portugal’s presidential elections. The second-round of voting in this hard-fought campaign saw a much lower abstention rate than initially feared – between 37.5% and 42.5%. Neither candidate has ‘accepted’ the results yet – albeit the Caldas da Rainha ‘headquarters’ of Seguro’s campaign is already celebrating. His adversary – CHEGA leader André Ventura – is ‘still at Mass in Lisbon’, but projections put him at coming in with between 28.6% of the vote, and 33.0%. Projections for Seguro are that he has walked this contest, with between 67% and 71.4% of the vote. This has always been the expected ‘end result’. It is also almost certainly what André Ventura ‘expected’ – as he has made no bones about the fact that he intends to be a future prime minister....more" Join us in the morning for further reflection on the result