The PS secretary-general was the only candidate in the direct elections, which saw more than 20,000 socialists head to the polls over the last two days.
Without competition, Carneiro is re-elected leader of the PS with 96.9% of the vote

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.
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Other news coverage of this topic
- Notícias ao Minuto - Última hora12:00am, 15 Mar 2026 • noticiasaominuto.com
- Notícias ao Minuto - Última hora12:00am, 15 Mar 2026 • noticiasaominuto.com
- Notícias ao Minuto - Última hora12:00am, 15 Mar 2026 • noticiasaominuto.com
- Notícias ao Minuto - Última hora12:00am, 15 Mar 2026 • noticiasaominuto.com
- PS president says local and presidential elections have restored the party's conviction that it can be bigger and better11:43pm, 14 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Carla Eliana Tavares is the president of the Socialist Women11:42pm, 14 Mar 2026 • Observador
- Carneiro reelected and "qualified" to be a candidate for PM11:31pm, 14 Mar 2026 • Observador
- Carneiro tests if he is more than just a manager of defeat11:29pm, 14 Mar 2026 • Observador
- Carneiro says he is qualified to be a candidate for prime minister in the future10:58pm, 14 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- José Luís Carneiro acknowledges that his 96% re-election result brings 'special responsibilities'10:53pm, 14 Mar 2026 • Dinheiro Vivo
- “This is a vote that expresses a broad will”: José Luís Carneiro says he is qualified to be a candidate for prime minister in the future10:50pm, 14 Mar 2026 • CNN Portugal
- José Luís Carneiro wins PS leadership with 96.9% and announces NEET youth as a priority10:21pm, 14 Mar 2026 • Expresso
- Re-elected José Luís Carneiro says he saw "hope" in those "reconciling with the PS"9:45pm, 14 Mar 2026 • RTP Notícias
- Re-elected José Luís Carneiro says he saw 'hope' that 'reconciles with the PS'9:45pm, 14 Mar 2026 • RTP Notícias
- José Luís Carneiro re-elected Secretary-General of the PS with 96.9% of the vote, claims to be the most voted party leader in parliament9:45pm, 14 Mar 2026 • CNN Portugal
- José Luís Carneiro re-elected Secretary-General of the PS with 96.9% of the vote9:31pm, 14 Mar 2026 • Diário de Notícias
- José Luís Carneiro re-elected Secretary-General of the PS with 96.9% of the vote9:30pm, 14 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- José Luís Carneiro re-elected Secretary-General of the PS with 96.9% of the vote9:26pm, 14 Mar 2026 • RTP Notícias
- José Luís Carneiro accuses Government of "insensitivity and incompetence"8:38pm, 14 Mar 2026 • RTP Notícias
- On PS election day, Carneiro criticises Montenegro: he must be prepared for the “absolute scrutiny of his personal and family life”6:51pm, 14 Mar 2026 • Expresso
- José Luís Carneiro says there is "great hope" that the PS will once again be an alternative5:53pm, 14 Mar 2026 • CNN Portugal
- PS leader says there is "great hope" that the party will once again be an alternative5:47pm, 14 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- On the day he is to be re-elected leader of the PS, Carneiro accuses the Government of incompetence5:39pm, 14 Mar 2026 • Público
- José Luís Carneiro has already voted and has re-election guaranteed: "There is a very high acceptance rate, above 95%"5:13pm, 14 Mar 2026 • CNN Portugal
- Carneiro re-elected leader of the PS with 96.9% of the votes4:46pm, 14 Mar 2026 • Observador






