Sebastião Bugalho, 28, a journalist, commentator and, now, a surprise as the 'number one' of the Democratic Alliance (AD) in the European elections. He left behind Rui Moreira, Mayor of Porto - who refused to be 'second' - and was already assumed by Hugo Soares, PSD Secretary-General, as "the only choice" and "the only invitation" made by Luís Montenegro to be the top of the list. Sebastião Maria Reis Bugalho began his career as a journalist and then gained more notoriety as a television commentator. He was born on November 15, 1995, and is currently a columnist for Expresso and a commentator on SIC. In 2019, he ran as an independent on the CDS-PP candidate lists for deputies, under the direction of Assunção Cristas, but was not elected. Two years later, he could have replaced Ana Rita Bessa in the Assembly of the Republic, but he declined. The eldest son of journalists João Alberto Santos Fernandes Bugalho and Patrícia Reis, Bugalho was a student of the Political Science course at the Institute of Political Studies of the Catholic University, having taken his first steps in journalism at i and Sol. He was then a commentator on TVI24. In the book 'Na cabeça de Ventura', by Expresso weekly journalist Vítor Matos, it is reported that Sebastião Bugalho was the journalist contacted by communications consultant João Gomes de Almeida for an interview with the leader of Chega that would end up making headlines and giving him notoriety, and in which a study was published - whose veracity the book questions - linking the gypsy community to the feeling of insecurity in London. In 2020, Sebastião Bugalho was the target of an investigation on suspicion of domestic violence, which was eventually shelved in 2022 due to lack of evidence. Montenegro praises Bugalho: "A talented young man" and disruptive The PSD president yesterday justified the choice of the journalist to lead the AD list for the European elections because he is "a talented young man" and disruptive. "A talented young man, a young man that the country knows, here and there even controversial, who confronts, is disruptive, stimulates confrontation with democratic respect. It is an example of what we want: that it is worth being in Portugal, fighting for Portugal and going to Europe to defend the interests and colors of Portugal", said Luís Montenegro, in the opening speech of the National Council, open to journalists. "It is worth betting on the future, Sebastião Bugalho is with all honor, with great conviction, the candidate that I have to present to you and I am convinced that he will make a difference in the next European elections", he added. Moreira admitted interest in Europe, but did not want 2nd place The Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, declined the invitation to join the second place on the Democratic Alliance (AD) list for the next European elections on June 9, a source close to the mayor told Lusa. To Lusa, the same source said that the PSD leader, Luís Montenegro, formally invited Rui Moreira for the second position on the AD list for the European elections on Sunday night, but he declined.

It should be recalled that, on Sunday, in the commentary space of CNN Portugal, Rui Moreira admitted interest, as well as concern with the European project.

"The issue of Europe is something that interests me and that mainly concerns me. We all have to be concerned with Europe and with the European project. The European project was the great project of the 20th century for Europeans after two devastating wars. At this moment, we need to fight for the Europe we want, a Europe that is threatened by wars, and for that reason, I also confess, without hesitation, that it is a project that, in some way, attracts me", he said.

In the last European elections, in June 2019, the PSD ran alone and had its worst result ever, less than 22% of the votes, and elected six MEPs.

Leia Também: De Temido a Bugalho (sem Moreira). Os candidatos do PS e AD às Europeias (Portuguese version)