2018 Portuguese Social Democratic Party leadership election

The 2018 Portuguese Social Democratic Party leadership election was held on 13 January 2018. The leadership election was held after then PSD leader Pedro Passos Coelho confirmed he would not run for another term in the aftermath of the poor results of the PSD in the 2017 local elections.

Only two candidates came forward: Rui Rio, former mayor of Porto, and Pedro Santana Lopes, former PSD leader, Prime Minister and mayor of Lisbon. This was Santana Lopes 5th leadership campaign, as he also ran in 1995, 1996, 2000, and 2008. As only two candidates were on the ballot, a second round wasn't necessary. On January 13, 2018, Rui Rio defeated Pedro Santana Lopes by a 54% to 46% margin, thus becoming the new leader of the PSD."Rui Rio é o novo líder do PSD ", SIC Notícias, 13 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2020. Pedro Santana Lopes was, again, defeated in a PSD leadership contest for a 5th time. Rui Rio was confirmed as the new party leader on a party national congress held in Lisbon between 16 and 18 February 2018."Rio: "Não há qualquer hipótese de um bloco central", Jornal de Notícias, 16 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2020. Six months after this leadership election, Santana Lopes left the PSD to form his own party, Alliance."Santana Lopes formaliza saída do PSD e prepara-se para formar um novo partido ", SIC Notícias, 4 August 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2020.

Candidates

NameBornExperienceAnnouncement dateRef. Pedro Santana Lopes (age 61)Lisbon Prime Minister President of the Social Democratic Party Mayor of Lisbon Mayor of Figueira da Foz Secretary of State of Culture Member of Parliament for Lisbon Member of the European Parliament 10 October 2017 Rui Rio (age 60)Porto Mayor of Porto (2001–2013)Member of Parliament for Porto (1991–2002)11 October 2017

Declined Luís Montenegro – former Parliamentary leader of the PSD (2011–2017) Miguel Pinto Luz – incumbent Deputy mayor of Cascais (2017–2024) André Ventura – candidate for Mayor of Loures in the 2017 local election (endorsed Pedro Santana Lopes)

Opinion polls All voters Polling firm/Commissioner Fieldwork date Sample size Other/NoneLead Aximage 6–9 Jan 2018 60069.0 22.5 8.5 46.5 Aximage 1–4 Dec 2017 60371.9 21.8 6.3 50.1 Aximage 4–6 Nov 2017 60065.8 24.3 9.9 41.5 Eurosondagem 16–18 Oct 2017 1,00343.3 42.2 12.5 1.1

PSD voters/members Polling firm/Commissioner Fieldwork date Sample size Other/NoneLead Eurosondagem 7–9 Jan 2018 548 48.951.1 2.2 Aximage 6–9 Jan 2018 60060.4 37.1 2.5 23.3 Aximage 1–4 Dec 2017 60370.5 26.8 2.7 43.7 Aximage 4–6 Nov 2017 60069.6 28.0 2.4 41.6

Polling firmFieldwork dateSample sizeRui RioPedro Santana LopesLuís Marques MendesLuís MontenegroMaria Luís AlbuquerqueMarco António CostaMiguel Pinto LuzPedro DuarteJosé Eduardo MartinsOthers/ UndecidedLeadEurosondagem4–11 Oct 20171,01132.930.416.93.02.52.22.110.02.5Eurosondagem5–11 May 20161,03132.428.422.316.94.0

Results + Summary of the January 2018 PSD leadership election results Candidate 13 January 2018 Votes % Rui Rio 22,728 54.15 Pedro Santana Lopes 19,244 45.85 Total 41,972 Valid votes 41,972 98.40 Invalid and blank ballots 683 1.60 Votes cast / turnout 42,655 60.34 Registered voters 70,692 Sources: Official results

See also Social Democratic Party (Portugal) List of political parties in Portugal Elections in Portugal

Notes

References

External links Election Results PSD Official Website