The article reports that members of Portugal's Socialist Party (PS) are beginning to vote today in direct elections to re-elect José Luís Carneiro as party secretary-general, with Carneiro running unopposed. Voting is taking place across most federations, with some remaining votes scheduled for Saturday. A total of 39,487 party members are eligible to vote, an increase from previous elections. In the 2025 elections, Carneiro was elected with 95.4% of votes. Alongside the leadership vote, members will elect delegates for the upcoming XXV National Congress and choose a new president for the Women’s Socialist group, as Elza Pais steps down. Carneiro, who has emphasized unity and modernization within the party, plans to vote on Saturday and will make a public statement afterward.
Militantes do PS começam hoje a votar para reeleger Carneiro como secretário-geral
Context & Explainers
Socialist Party (PS)
- Leader: José Luís Carneiro (since June 2025)
- Ideology: Center-left, Social democracy, pro-Europeanism
Portugal's other traditional major party suffered a historic collapse in the 2025 election, dropping from 78 to 58 seats and falling to third place for the first time in democratic history. The party was led by Pedro Nuno Santos from January 2024 until his resignation following the May 2025 defeat. José Luís Carneiro, a 53-year-old former Minister of Internal Administration known for his moderate positioning within the party, was elected unopposed as the new Secretary-General with 95% of votes in June 2025. The Socialist Party governed Portugal from 2015 to 2024, including an absolute majority from 2022 to 2024 under António Costa, who resigned in November 2023 amid a corruption investigation. The PS previously led the innovative "Geringonça" (contraption) coalition government from 2015-2019, a minority government supported by the Left Bloc and Portuguese Communist Party that reversed austerity measures and presided over economic recovery.
