Latest news and stories about internal politics in Portugal for expats and residents.
The list led by former MP for Braga Ricardo Gonçalves filed a complaint with the Jurisdiction Committee, but the matter now passes to the new team, whose election this group of party members seeks to annul.
The 40 party members claim that the submitted list, which was rejected for allegedly having only “seven names”, actually included 251 candidates and 48 subscribers, a “number higher than the minimum required by the regulations”. The socialists also accused the only admitted list of having “several cumulative irregularities”.
About 40 militants have filed an appeal with the National Jurisdictional Commission, challenging decisions made at the PS Congress. At issue is the rejection of Ricardo Gonçalves' list, which they claim compromises 'pluralism'.
Ricardo Gonçalves — who saw his list rejected for having only “seven names” — is leading an appeal in which he guarantees that the candidacy met the requirements and accuses Carneiro's list of irregularities.
Following objections from the proponents, the decision was ratified by a majority vote of the delegates present at the multi-purpose pavilion in Viseu, where the socialists' major meeting is taking place.
The deadline for submitting lists ends this Saturday at 7:00 PM, and the vote will take place on Sunday morning.
On the eve of the congress, there are those within the party who are unhappy with the direction of the PS.
Recent departures expose internal criticism within Livre, with accusations of control by an 'elite' that contrasts with the open model the party proposed at its founding.
João Manso complains that officials are fueling “information control dynamics” and failing to comply with the rotation rule that should apply to the spokesperson position.
João Manso accuses those aligned with Rui Tavares of blocking access to information, pointing to “information control dynamics” that exclude leaders. Additionally, the CGTP will present itself at Monday's meeting.
Miguel Prata Roque, a prominent internal critic within the Socialist Party (PS), was defeated in the delegate elections held this Friday, March 13. The former Secretary of State, running in Lumiar, lost to Henrique Sá Melo, who represented the opposition list. Despite his profile as a television commentator advocating for party rejuvenation, Prata Roque failed to secure a spot. Meanwhile, Secretary-General José Luís Carneiro remains unopposed and is set to be re-elected, with early results in Lisbon showing strong support for his leadership.
João Manso accuses those aligned with Tavares of blocking his access to information. He accuses spokespeople of having “unilateral decision-making powers”. Mendes Lopes denounces electoral tactics ahead of the congress.
The Socialist Party is preparing a statutory review for its National Congress in Viseu, with internal pressure growing to discuss term limits for the party president. Carlos César, who has held the position since 2014, is set for re-election, but district federations are pushing for greater democratic renewal within the party's internal bodies.
In an interview, Ricardo Bastos Sousa discusses his recent re-election as head of the PSD local branch in Espinho, claiming that the party leadership, including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, actively worked against his candidacy. He addresses the internal tensions within the PSD, the local political landscape in Espinho following the 'Operação Vortex' investigation, and comments on the recent public interventions by former leader Pedro Passos Coelho regarding the current government's performance.
Fears of the PSD becoming 'ghettoised' in the North, despite some symbolic 2025 local election wins like Sintra and Beja, have been reinforced by internal elections where over half of the 22,272 voters were concentrated in the five districts north of the Douro. The Lisbon Metropolitan Area continues to lose ground, while 43 local branches failed to elect governing bodies due to a lack of candidate lists, including seven municipalities currently governed by PSD mayors.
Former MP blames members of the party for the low number of signatures collected.
