“It is very important to understand that the Socialist Party (PS) is the great house of democracy because it brings together people ranging from those more to the left of the PS to humanists, Christian democrats, and social democrats, who join this Strategic Council to contribute to their country,” José Luís Carneiro emphasized to journalists at the conclusion of the ceremony establishing this advisory body composed of over 90 individuals.
In response to whether the PS Strategic Council—coordinated by former parliament president Augusto Santos Silva—functions like a shadow government, the PS leader replied, “We have here personalities capable of forming several governments, not just one.”
“If you look at the personalities, their quality, their academic life experience, (…) various people from industry, business, economy, and culture. Without false modesty, I believe we have here personalities, competencies, and capabilities to form not just one, but several governments,” he asserted.
Among the different names, around fifty have previously held government positions.
Regarding the selection of Santos Silva for this coordination role, Carneiro stated that “his name was the most agreed upon during consultations,” highlighting “his extensive experience in team coordination and delivering results.”
“He was involved in revising the PS’s principles declaration in the early 2000s and has a historical trajectory from the governments of engineer António Guterres to the recent governments of doctor António Costa. This broad experience in government functions gives him an understanding of the State and society,” he noted.
In his speech after all present members signed the installation act, the PS Secretary-General, elected about a month ago, described this body as “a sign of openness, diversity, and pluralism.”
Emphasizing that the PS “is a center-left party,” Carneiro mentioned that this advisory body, with the 2050 timeframe in view, includes personalities to the left of the PS as well as those from “Christian democratic humanism,” such as former CDS-PP vice-president Filipe Lobo d’Avila.
“This is a starting point and not an endpoint. Other personalities will join us in this journey,” he anticipated.
This body will hold ordinary quarterly meetings, with the first scheduled for mid-September, and it is required to produce an annual strategic report and thematic booklets.
The Strategic Council is composed of “individuals with political experience, academics, entrepreneurs, managers, scientists, artists, associative leaders, and young talents,” representing various regions of the country and the diaspora.
