“This is not the time for the Socialist Party (PS) to hold a congress, especially as we are merely four months away from the municipal elections, with summer and holidays in between,” stated Daniel Adrião to Lusa following the party’s electoral defeat in Sunday’s legislative elections and the start of the succession process for Pedro Nuno Santos on Saturday at the national committee of the party.
Daniel Adrião, a four-time candidate for general secretary during the leaderships of António Costa and Pedro Nuno Santos, remarked that “the PS is currently in a state of exception” and should, therefore, focus on reflection and the municipal elections before selecting a new leader.
“I advocate that the PS, in consultation with civil society, should engage in deep reflection that culminates in open primary elections to choose the party leader and a statutory and programmatic electoral congress in October or November. Until then, the leadership should be temporarily assumed by the party president, Carlos César,” he declared.
The former opponent of António Costa and Pedro Nuno Santos reminded that the municipal process had already been impacted by the anticipation of the legislative elections, and it would not be sensible to hinder it further by electing a new socialist leader.
Adrião argued that “the PS has suffered the most significant defeat in its history because, for the first time, it has seemingly ceased to be the second-largest parliamentary political force.” He noted, “I was the only voice within the PS on March 10 at the national political committee opposing the parliamentary inquiry commission into the Spinumviva case, arguing that the PS should not conflate an ethical lapse with a criminal offense and should have awaited the conclusions of the preventive investigation opened by the Attorney General’s Office. The Portuguese did not want elections, so it was a mistake for the PS to provoke a political crisis.”
The AD – PSD/CDS coalition emerged victorious in Sunday’s legislative elections, securing 89 deputies, including three elected through the AD coalition with PPM in the Azores, while PS and Chega tied with 58 parliamentary seats each.
The Liberal Initiative remains the fourth political force, now boasting one more deputy (9) compared to 2024, with Livre securing the third position, advancing from four to six deputies.
The CDU lost one parliamentary seat, reducing its representation to three, while the Left Bloc has diminished to one representative, and PAN retained one deputy.
The JPP from Madeira succeeded in electing one deputy.
These results do not yet account for the overseas voters, whose participation and choices will be revealed on May 28.
