# 2023 Portuguese Socialist Party leadership election

The 2023 Portuguese Socialist Party leadership election was held on 15 and 16 December 2023. The leadership ballot was called after Prime Minister and Socialist Party Secretary-General António Costa resigned from office on 7 November 2023. The winner of this election led the Socialist Party into the 2024 legislative election.
The declared candidates included the former Infrastructure and Housing Minister Pedro Nuno Santos, who represented the leftist faction of the party and wants to build upon the legacy of António Costa, Internal Administration Minister José Luís Carneiro, who represented the moderate faction and a continuation of Costism, and Daniel Adrião, a longtime critic of Costa as Secretary-General, who represented a rupture.
Even with the candidates claiming the contrary, this leadership election was viewed as another ideological dispute to decide what direction the party and the country should take, similar to the leadership elections of 2014 between Costa and António José Seguro, of 2004 between José Sócrates and Manuel Alegre and of 1992 between António Guterres and Jorge Sampaio.
With a turnout rate of around 70%, Pedro Nuno Santos was elected as the new Secretary-General of the Socialist Party with almost 61% of the votes, against the 37% of José Luís Carneiro. Daniel Adrião polled below 1%.

## Candidates
### Declared

| Name | Born | Experience | Announcement date |
| José Luís Carneiro | 4 October 1971 (age 52) Baião | Minister of Internal Administration (2022–2024) Member of Parliament for Braga (since 2022) Deputy Secretary-general of the Socialist Party (2019–2022) Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities (2015–2019) Mayor of Baião (2005–2015) Member of Parliament for Porto (2005; 2015–2022) | 10 November 2023 |
| Pedro Nuno Santos | 13 April 1977 (age 46) São João da Madeira | Member of Parliament for Aveiro (since 2005) Minister of Infrastructure and Housing (2019–2023) Secretary of State for Parliament Affairs (2015–2019) Secretary-general of the Socialist Youth (2004–2008) | 13 November 2023 |
| Daniel Adrião | 1 September 1967 (age 56) | Member of the National Commission of the Socialist Party (since 2016) Political activist Candidate in the PS leadership elections of 2016, 2018 and 2021 | 17 November 2023 |

### Declined

* Ana Catarina Mendes – Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (2022–2024)
* António José Seguro – former Secretary-general of the Socialist Party (2011–2014)
* Fernando Medina – Minister of Finance (2022–2024); former Mayor of Lisbon (2015–2021) (endorsed José Luís Carneiro)
* Francisco Assis – former MEP of the Socialist Party (PS) (2004–2009; 2014–2019); former mayor of Amarante (1990–1995) (endorsed Pedro Nuno Santos)
* Mariana Vieira da Silva – Minister of the Presidency (2019–2024)
* Marta Temido – former Minister of Health (2018–2022); chair of the Lisbon Socialist Party (2023–2024)
* Mário Centeno – governor of the Bank of Portugal (since 2020); former President of the Eurogroup (2018–2020); former Minister of Finance (2015–2020)

## Notable endorsements
### Presidents of the Assembly of the Republic

* Augusto Santos Silva, President of the Assembly of the Republic (2022–2024), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2015–2022), Minister of National Defense (2009–2011), Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (2005–2009), Minister of Culture (2001–2002), Minister of Education (2000–2001)

### Ministers

* Adalberto Campos Fernandes, Minister of Health (2015–2018)
* António Correia Campos, Minister of Health (2001–2002, 2005–2008), Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Viseu (1991–2001) and Member of the European Parliament (2009–2014)
* Catarina Sarmento e Castro, Minister of Justice (2022–2024) and Judge of the Constitutional Court (2010-2019)
* Constança Urbano de Sousa, Minister of Internal Administration (2015–2017) and Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Porto (2017-2022)
* Fernando Medina, Minister of Finance (2022–2024) and Mayor of Lisbon (2015–2021)
* Jorge Lacão, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (2009–2011) and Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Santarém (1983–2009) and Lisbon (2011–2022)
* José António Vieira da Silva, Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security (2015–2019)
* Maria de Belém Roseira, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Lisbon (2000–2015), Minister for Equality (1999–2000), Minister of Health (1995-1999), President of the Socialist Party (2011–2014) and candidate in the 2016 Portuguese presidential election

### Members of the Assembly of the Republic

* António Lacerda Sales, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Leiria (2015–2024); Secretary of State for Health (2019–2022)
* Berta Nunes, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Bragança (2023–2024) and Chair of the Bragança Federation of the Socialist Party
* Eurico Brilhante Dias, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Leiria (since 2022), president of the Socialist Parliamentary Caucus (since 2022) and Secretary of State of Internationalization (2017-2022)
* Jamila Madeira, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Faro (since 1999)
* João Azevedo, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Viseu (since 2019)
* Luís Capoulas Santos, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Évora (2019–2024), Minister of Agriculture (1998–2002, 2015–2019) and Member of the European Parliament (2004–2014)
* Maria Antónia Almeida Santos, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Setúbal (2005–2024)
* Maria da Luz Rosinha, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Lisbon (2015–2024) and Mayor of Vila Franca de Xira (1998–2013)
* Paula Custódio Reis, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Castelo Branco (2022–2024)
* Paulo Pisco, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Europe (from 1999-2002 and since 2009)
* Pedro Cegonho, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Lisbon (2019–2024)
* Romualda Fernandes, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Lisbon (2019–2024)
* Susana Amador, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Lisbon (2015–2024) and Mayor of Odivelas (2005–2015)

### MEPs

* Carlos Zorrinho, Member of the European Parliament (2014–2024), Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Évora (1995–2014)

### Mayors

* Antero Barbosa, Mayor of Fafe (since 2021)
* Basílio Horta, Mayor of Sintra (since 2013), Vice Prime Minister (1981), Minister of Commerce (1978, 1980-1983), Candidate in the 1991 Portuguese presidential election and founding member of the CDS – People's Party
* Joaquim Barreto, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Braga (since 2015) and mayor of Cabeceiras de Basto (1993–2013)
* Leopoldo Rodrigues, Mayor of Castelo Branco (since 2021)
* Nuno Vaz Ribeiro, Mayor of Chaves (since 2017)
* Paulo Arsénio, Mayor of Beja (since 2017)
* Paulo Cafôfo, Mayor of Funchal (2013–2019) and Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities (since 2022)
* Rui Solheiro, Secretary-general of the Portuguese National Association of Municipalities (since 2013), Mayor of Melgaço (1982–2012) and Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Viana do Castelo (1995–2002)

### Individuals

* Tony Carreira, singer and musician

### Ministers

* Ana Abrunhosa, Minister of Territorial Cohesion (2019–2024)
* Duarte Cordeiro, Minister of the Environment and Climate Action (2022–2024) and Chair of the Lisbon Urban Area Federation of the Socialist Party
* Eduardo Cabrita, Minister of Internal Administration (2017–2021) and Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Setúbal (2002–2015)
* João Marques Costa, Minister of Education (2022–2024)
* Manuel Pizarro, Minister of Health (2022–2024), Member of the European Parliament (2019-2022) and Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Porto (2005–2011)
* Maria do Céu Antunes, Minister of Agriculture (2019–2024) and Mayor of Abrantes (2009–2019)
* Marina Gonçalves, Minister of Housing (2023–2024)

### Members of the Assembly of the Republic

* Alexandra Leitão, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Santarém (since 2022) and Minister for the Modernization of the State and Public Administration (2019–2022)
* Alexandre Quintanilha, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Porto (2015–2024)
* Carlos João Pereira, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Madeira (since 2015)
* Edite Estrela, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Lisbon (since 1987), Vice President of the Assembly of the Republic (2015–2024), Member of the European Parliament (2004–2014) and Mayor of Sintra (1994–2002)
* Francisco César, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Azores (since 2022)
* Hugo Costa, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Santarém (since 2015) and Chair of the Santarém Federation of the Socialist Party
* Isabel Moreira, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Lisbon (since 2011)
* João Paulo Rebelo, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Viseu (2015–2024)
* João Torres, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Porto (since 2015) and Deputy Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (since 2022)
* Luís Graça, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Faro (since 2015) and Chair of the Algarve Federation of the Socialist Party
* Manuel Alegre, Member of the Council of State (since 2022; 1996–2002), Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Lisbon (2002–2009) and for Coimbra (1975–2002) and candidate in the 2006 and 2011 Portuguese presidential election
* Maria Begonha, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Lisbon (since 2019)
* Miguel Costa Matos, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Lisbon (since 2019) and Secretary General of the Socialist Youth (since 2020)
* Nelson Brito, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Beja (since 2022) and Chair of the Lower Alentejo Federation of the Socialist Party
* Patrícia Faro, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Porto (since 2022)
* Pedro Delgado Alves, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Lisbon (since 2011)
* Porfírio Silva, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Aveiro (2015–2024)
* Tiago Barbosa Ribeiro, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Porto (since 2015)

### MEPs

* Ana Gomes, Member of the European Parliament (2004–2019), Portuguese Ambassador to Indonesia (2000–2003) and candidate in the 2021 Portuguese presidential election
* Francisco Assis, Member of the European Parliament (2004–2009; 2014–2019), Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Porto (1995–2004; 2011–2014) and Mayor of Amarante (1989-1995)
* Sara Cerdas, Member of the European Parliament (2019–2024)

### Mayors

* Domingos Bragança, Mayor of Guimarães (since 2013)
* Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues, Mayor of Vila Nova de Gaia (since 2013) and Chair of the Porto Federation of the Socialist Party
* Fredrico Castro, Mayor of Póvoa de Lanhoso (since 2021) and Chair of the Braga Federation of the Socialist Party
* Gonçalo Lopes, Mayor of Leiria (since 2019)
* Isilda Gomes, Mayor of Portimão (since 2013) and Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Faro (2009–2011)
* Jorge Sequeira, Mayor of São João da Madeira (since 2017) and Chair of the Aveiro Federation of the Socialist Party
* Luísa Salgueiro, Mayor of Matosinhos (since 2017), President of the Portuguese National Association of Municipalities (since 2021) and Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Porto (2005–2017)
* Luís Machado, Mayor of Santa Marta de Penaguião (since 2013) and Chair of the Vila Real Federation of the Socialist Party
* Vítor Manuel Pereira, Mayor of Covilhã (since 2013) and Chair of the Castelo Branco Federation of the Socialist Party
* Vítor Paulo Pereira, Mayor of Paredes de Coura (since 2013) and Chair of the Viana do Castelo Federation of the Socialist Party
* Walter Chicharro, Mayor of Nazaré (2013–2024) and Chair of the Leiria Federation of the Socialist Party

### Prime Ministers

* António Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal (2015–2024), Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (2014–2024) and Mayor of Lisbon (2007–2015)

### Ministers

* Mariana Vieira da Silva, Minister of the Presidency (2019–2024)

### Members of the Assembly of the Republic

* Marta Temido, Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Coimbra (2022–2024), Minister of Health (2018-2022) and Chair of the Lisbon Socialist Party (2023–2024)

## Campaign period
### Candidates' slogans

| Candidate | Original slogan | English translation |
| José Luís Carneiro | « Por Todos. Para Todos » | "By All. For All" |
| Pedro Nuno Santos | « Portugal Inteiro » | "Whole Portugal" |
| Daniel Adrião | « Democracia Plena » | "Full Democracy" |

### Candidates' debates

José Luís Carneiro and Daniel Adrião proposed a series of debates between the candidates, but Pedro Nuno Santos refused to participate in any debate. Therefore, no debates between the candidates to the leadership were held.

## Opinion polling
### All voters

| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size | | | Others/ Undecided | Lead |
| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Nuno Santos | Carneiro | Others/ Undecided | Lead |
| ICS/ISCTE | 18–27 Nov 2023 | 803 | 26 | 24 | 50 | 2 |
| CESOP–UCP | 15–24 Nov 2023 | 1,102 | 29 | 38 | 33 | 9 |
| Aximage | 18–23 Nov 2023 | 802 | 52 | 26 | 22 | 26 |
| Intercampus | 14–17 Nov 2023 | 604 | 31.7 | 28.1 | 40.2 | 3.6 |
| Aximage | 10–13 Nov 2023 | 504 | 32 | 18 | 50 | 14 |
| Aximage | 8–9 Nov 2023 | 516 | 30 | 9 | 61 | 21 |

### PS voters

| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size | | | Others/ Undecided | Lead |
| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Nuno Santos | Carneiro | Others/ Undecided | Lead |
| ICS/ISCTE | 18–27 Nov 2023 | ? | 37 | 32 | 31 | 5 |
| CESOP–UCP | 15–24 Nov 2023 | ? | 39 | 34 | 27 | 5 |
| Aximage | 18–23 Nov 2023 | ? | 61 | 26 | 13 | 35 |
| Aximage | 10–13 Nov 2023 | ? | 31 | 23 | 47 | 8 |
All voters
| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size | | | | | | | | Others/ Undecided | Lead |
| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Medina | Nuno Santos | Vieira da Silva | Mendes | Temido | Santos Silva | Adão | Others/ Undecided | Lead |
| ICS/ISCTE | 10–18 Sep 2022 | 807 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 3 | — | 8 | 1 | 65 | 4 |
| Intercampus | 14–23 Sep 2021 | 609 | 21.0 | 20.0 | 11.7 | 10.2 | 25.9 | — | — | 11.2 | 4.9 |
PS voters
| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size | | | | | | Others/ Undecided | Lead |
| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Medina | Nuno Santos | Vieira da Silva | Mendes | Santos Silva | Others/ Undecided | Lead |
| ICS/ISCTE | 10–18 Sep 2022 | 807 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 51 | 1 |

## Results
### National summary

| Candidate | Candidate | 15 & 16 December 2023 | 15 & 16 December 2023 |
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Pedro Nuno Santos | 24,219 | 60.83 |
| | José Luís Carneiro | 14,891 | 37.40 |
| | Daniel Adrião | 382 | 0.96 |
| Total | Total | 39,492 | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 39,492 | 99.19 |
| Invalid and blank ballots | Invalid and blank ballots | 322 | 0.81 |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 39,814 | 68.65 |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 57,993 | |
| Source: ||||
Vote share
Pedro Nuno Santos
60.83%
José Luís Carneiro
37.40%
Daniel Adrião
0.96%
Blank/Invalid
0.81% :

### Results by party federation

The following table shows a breakdown of the results of the election by party federation, which are mostly equal to the electoral circles.
Result breakdown of the 2023 Portuguese Socialist Party leadership election :
| Federation | Pedro Nuno Santos | Pedro Nuno Santos | José Luís Carneiro | José Luís Carneiro | Daniel Adrião | Daniel Adrião | Invalid ballots | Votes cast | Registered |
| Federation | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Invalid ballots | Votes cast | Registered |
| Algarve | 710 | 62.50 | 413 | 36.36 | 12 | 1.06 | 1 | 1,136 | 1,491 |
| Aveiro | 1,299 | 75.17 | 404 | 23.38 | 10 | 0.58 | 15 | 1,728 | 2,096 |
| Baixo Alentejo | 405 | 56.96 | 291 | 40.93 | 6 | 0.84 | 9 | 711 | 862 |
| Braga | 2,928 | 55.37 | 2,280 | 43.12 | 19 | 0.36 | 61 | 5,288 | 7,897 |
| Bragança | 560 | 58.82 | 373 | 39.18 | 9 | 0.95 | 10 | 952 | 1,131 |
| Castelo Branco | 549 | 58.10 | 373 | 39.47 | 5 | 0.53 | 18 | 945 | 1,123 |
| Coimbra | 1,874 | 68.80 | 800 | 29.37 | 35 | 1.28 | 15 | 2,724 | 3,506 |
| Évora | 270 | 63.08 | 145 | 33.88 | 8 | 1.87 | 5 | 428 | 534 |
| Guarda | 487 | 60.05 | 317 | 39.09 | 5 | 0.62 | 2 | 811 | 986 |
| Leiria | 611 | 58.58 | 410 | 39.31 | 13 | 1.25 | 9 | 1,043 | 1,249 |
| Lisbon: Urban Area | 3,265 | 66.85 | 1,519 | 31.10 | 61 | 1.25 | 39 | 4,884 | 7,165 |
| Lisbon: Oeste | 126 | 36.42 | 212 | 61.27 | 5 | 1.45 | 3 | 346 | 415 |
| Portalegre | 544 | 68.77 | 230 | 29.08 | 8 | 1.01 | 9 | 791 | 1,036 |
| Porto | 4,951 | 56.88 | 3,627 | 41.67 | 53 | 0.61 | 73 | 8,704 | 11,321 |
| Santarém | 752 | 70.28 | 293 | 27.38 | 16 | 1.50 | 9 | 1,070 | 1,252 |
| Setúbal | 1,382 | 66.38 | 656 | 31.51 | 27 | 1.30 | 17 | 2,082 | 2,942 |
| Viana do Castelo | 546 | 65.00 | 289 | 34.40 | 4 | 0.48 | 1 | 840 | 976 |
| Vila Real | 499 | 46.81 | 557 | 52.25 | 10 | 0.94 | 0 | 1,066 | 1,316 |
| Viseu | 1,386 | 67.68 | 635 | 31.01 | 3 | 0.15 | 24 | 2,048 | 2,478 |
| Azores | 321 | 65.91 | 165 | 33.88 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 487 | 4,677 |
| Madeira | 493 | 40.28 | 725 | 59.23 | 6 | 0.49 | 0 | 1,224 | 1896 |
| Europe | 117 | 54.67 | 77 | 35.98 | 19 | 8.88 | 1 | 214 | 892 |
| Outside of Europe | 144 | 49.32 | 100 | 34.25 | 48 | 16.44 | 0 | 292 | 752 |