The highest decision-making body of the Socialist Party (PS) between congresses was convened by party president Carlos César, following the election of José Luís Carneiro as the 10th secretary-general of the PS in uncontested direct elections.
The National Commission meeting of the PS is scheduled in Lisbon at 11:00 a.m., featuring an initial speech by the new PS leader, which will be open to the media.
Agenda items include the election of the new National Secretariat, introducing members such as MEPs Ana Catarina Mendes and Francisco Assis, former deputy Sérgio Sousa Pinto, and the mayor of Almada, Inês de Medeiros.
Departing from the National Secretariat are deputy and former minister Mariana Vieira da Silva, candidate for the Lisbon mayoral race Alexandra Leitão, and former minister Duarte Cordeiro.
The PS body members will also review the 2024 budget and elect the director of the newspaper “Ação Socialista.”
According to party information, Porfírio Silva, previously appointed by former PS leader Pedro Nuno Santos, will no longer hold the director role, with former deputy Ascenso Simões set to take over.
On Friday, the PS parliamentary leader, Eurico Brilhante Dias, confirmed that José Luís Carneiro would complete the two-year term left vacant after the resignation of his predecessor, Pedro Nuno Santos.
This position was conveyed by Eurico Brilhante Dias during a press conference, reacting to a news article suggesting the PS faces a “statutory impasse,” as Carneiro is an interim leader who must be re-elected with a congress accompanying the process.
The PS Parliamentary Group president expressed surprise at the article being front-page news, stating it was the decision made by the PS National Commission.
José Luís Carneiro became the 10th secretary-general of the PS on Saturday, succeeding Pedro Nuno Santos, who resigned following a poor electoral outcome in the last legislative elections.
Provisional results, with 95% of votes tallied and 24 sections pending, show Carneiro elected as PS secretary-general with 95.4%, translating to 17,434 votes, alongside 701 blank votes and 128 null votes.
The participation rate in this election, with Carneiro as the sole candidate, was 48.9%.