Marcelo’s Offer Prompted Vaccine Admiral to Join 2026 Presidential Race

The run-up to Portugal’s 2026 presidential election has taken a sharp turn. Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo says a discreet attempt to renew his mandate as Chief of the Navy—reportedly encouraged by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa—convinced him to pursue the presidency instead. The disclosure appears in “Gouveia e Melo – As Razões”, an interview-book to be released in mid-November.

The spark behind the decision

The former national vaccination coordinator recounts that an Expresso report from October 2024, hinting at Marcelo’s wish to extend his term, “landed like a broadside”. Gouveia e Melo argues that remaining in the post would have confined him to what he calls “a gilded cage”, limiting his influence on defence policy. Rather than accept another stint in uniform, he opted for the political arena—even if that means challenging the head of state who once praised his pandemic leadership.

Inside the new book

Early excerpts underscore three themes: frustration with limited naval budgets, a belief that military experience can serve the Republic from Belém, and the moment when the alleged presidential overture crystallised his resolve. Campaign aides, however, insist no single act by Marcelo was the sole trigger; instead, they cite a broader pattern of governmental indifference to national security.

A silent Palácio de Belém

True to form, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has declined to engage with the accusations. “I do not comment on future candidates,” he told reporters, stressing that no interview on record contains the remarks now circulating. The Presidency adds that routine personnel decisions should not be confused with political manoeuvring. The statement has not stopped speculation from spreading on social media and in Lisbon cafés.

Party reactions: admiration, suspicion and caution

Socialists applaud the admiral’s emphasis on sovereignty but bristle at suggestions he is “the PS’s unofficial flag-bearer”. The centre-right PSD offers guarded courtesies, aware that his name recognition could siphon votes from its own hopeful, Luís Marques Mendes. Chega leader André Ventura calls him “a candidate in camouflage” and presses for tougher stances on immigration. Iniciativa Liberal and Livre criticise the timing—announced during the legislative campaign—as poor form. Analysts note that high-profile independents often attract crossover voters, complicating traditional left-right arithmetic.

What the polls show

An Intercampus survey for Correio da Manhã in early November placed Gouveia e Melo third with 18 percent. Days later, an Aximage poll conducted for TSF/DN/JN put him on top with 24 percent. The admiral dismisses the volatility, saying “the only poll that counts is election day”. Meanwhile, Marcelo’s own approval rating has dipped into negative territory for the first time in several years.

Why it matters

For residents from Viana do Castelo naval families to entrepreneurs in Faro, the episode raises broader questions: who will champion defence as EU commitments grow, how independent can an outsider remain once party endorsements arrive, and what the affair says about transparency in senior appointments. As televised debates begin later this month, the admiral’s account will face public scrutiny. Whether the alleged Marcelo intervention proves decisive or not, it has already forced every contender to define a stance on defence and presidential powers.

The officer who oversaw Portugal’s Covid-19 vaccination drive is now navigating an unpredictable political campaign. Voters will soon decide whether his next destination is Belém Palace or a return to private life.