Members of the Bloco de Esquerda (BE) had previously presented a proposal in February, when a major meeting was scheduled for June, calling for a “new direction” for the party.
After the party experienced its worst-ever results in legislative elections in May, dropping from five deputies to just one, Mariana Mortágua, the national coordinator, the BE initiated a new period for submitting candidacies to national bodies and rescheduled its 14th convention for November 29 and 30.
The ‘S’ motion included members who were part of Mariana Mortágua’s list to the National Board at the party’s last convention in 2023, such as leader Adelino Fortunato and former Assembly of the Republic deputies Heitor de Sousa and Alexandra Vieira.
At that time, these members warned of the potential “ideological dilution” and pointed to the lack of internal democracy as the “main factor of fragility” in the party.
Former deputy Pedro Soares confirmed that the critics associated with the former ‘E’ motion, who for several years represented internal opposition and still hold some national positions, will not present a motion at this convention.
National coordinator Mariana Mortágua announced on the night of the May 18 elections her intention to run again for the position she has held since May 2023.
Mortágua stated it is her responsibility to “conduct a broad and serious assessment” of the BE’s performance in the recent legislative elections and to “complete the party’s preparation process for the local elections,” scheduled for September or October.
On May 18, the party recorded its worst-ever legislative election results, losing 154,818 votes compared to 2024 and reducing representation from five parliamentarians to just one: the leader, Mariana Mortágua, who led the Lisbon list.
According to the BE’s 14th National Convention regulations, published on the party’s website, orientation motions submitted to the National Convention must be delivered by June 30, Monday, at 17:00, and be supported by a minimum of thirty members “in full exercise of their rights.”
