“There is significant party unity in mobilizing to legitimize my leadership, not only in how they are participating but also because the voting has been very expressive,” José Luís Caneiro stated.
He noted that support in all federations is consistently above 90%, which he emphasized as very significant.
Caneiro recalled that many of the country’s federations had already voted by Friday.
“Today, voting occurs in six locations, including three of the largest—Porto, Braga, and Coimbra. Voter participation is very positive, above 50%, which is impressive, considering there is only one candidacy,” he noted.
Speaking in the municipality where he served as mayor for several terms and began his political career, the candidate expressed gratitude to the Socialist Party members and encouraged those who had not yet voted to do so, reminding them that some sections would remain open until 19:00, others until 20:00, and some until 22:00.
José Luís Caneiro additionally expressed gratitude on this second day of voting to the party members, sympathizers, and many independent citizens who supported him nationwide at the Socialist Party headquarters.
He also highlighted participation in meetings held to present the national strategy motion.
These elections were organized following the resignation of Pedro Nuno Santos from the position of general secretary of the PS, after the party’s heavy defeat in the early legislative elections on May 18, which reduced the Socialist representation to 58 deputies, making it the third-largest political force in parliament.
On Friday, PS members voted in 15 of the party’s 21 federations. Today, socialists from the remaining six districts—Azores, Algarve, Braga, Coimbra, Porto, and Viseu—are casting their votes.
