In a statement sent to the news agency Lusa, the former President of the Assembly of the Republic stated that “José Luís Carneiro had the courage and determination to advance” with a candidacy for the leadership of the PS.
“As a former secretary-general also elected in very difficult and challenging circumstances, I want to offer a word of support to José Luís Carneiro. And a call for PS members to express their confidence and unity through their vote,” he says.
Deputy José Luís Carneiro is the sole candidate in the direct elections for the secretary-general of the PS, scheduled for June 27 and 28, to choose the successor to Pedro Nuno Santos, who resigned after the legislative defeat.
The deadline for submitting candidacies for these elections ended today, and as expected, José Luís Carneiro was the only one to enter this internal electoral race, confirmed an official PS source to Lusa.
A day after the heavy defeat of the PS in the legislative elections of May 18, which led to Pedro Nuno Santos’s resignation on election night, the former minister indicated in a note sent to Lusa that he would be available to serve PS and Portugal and considered that the party should undertake “a deep reflection” and open a new cycle.
In the presentation of his candidacy, held over the weekend at the PS headquarters in Lisbon, José Luís Carneiro called for internal unity within the party, without “mutual blows” or internal focus, assuring that he will not engage in “personal and superficial attacks in the public square.”
In the same speech, he promised that under his leadership, the PS would be “determined and energetic in opposition” to what it considers setbacks, but it will also not fear “promoting democratic consensus.”
In the legislative elections of May 18, the PS was reduced to 58 deputies and became the third largest political force in parliament, although it maintained second place in terms of vote percentage, with a very narrow margin in relation to Chega.
The direct elections to choose the new secretary-general of the PS will take place on June 27 and 28, as planned in the schedule proposed by the party president, Carlos César, which was approved at the National Committee on May 24 with 201 votes in favor and five against.
