2008 Portuguese Social Democratic Party leadership election explained

Election Name:2008 Social Democratic Party leadership election
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2007 Portuguese Social Democratic Party leadership election
Previous Year:2007
Next Election:2010 Portuguese Social Democratic Party leadership election
Next Year:2010
Election Date:31 May 2008
Turnout:59.1% 3.3 pp
Candidate1:Manuela Ferreira Leite
Colour1:FF9900
Popular Vote1:17,278
Percentage1:37.9%
Candidate2:Pedro Passos Coelho
Colour2:FF9900
Popular Vote2:14,160
Percentage2:31.1%
Candidate3:Pedro Santana Lopes
Colour3:FF9900
Popular Vote3:13,495
Percentage3:29.6%
Leader
Before Election:Luís Filipe Menezes
After Election:Manuela Ferreira Leite

The 2008 Portuguese Social Democratic Party leadership election was held on 31 May 2008. This was a snap leadership election following the surprise resignation of then party leader Luís Filipe Menezes, elected just seven months before in September 2007, from the party's leadership.[1]

Menezes was facing heavy internal criticism for his leadership and opposition strategy but, nonetheless, his resignation surprised party members and structures.[2] Four candidates entered in this snap race: Manuela Ferreira Leite, Pedro Passos Coelho, Pedro Santana Lopes and Mário Patinha Antão.

On election day, Ferreira Leite won the leadership by capturing almost 38% of the votes, while Passos Coelho got 31% of the votes and Santana Lopes polled just below 30%.[3] Patinha Antão polled well below 1%, just 0.7% of the party members votes.

Manuela Ferreira Leite became the first woman to lead a major political party in Portuguese history.[4]

Ferreira Leite would lead the PSD to victory in the 2009 European Parliament election in Portugal,[5] but was defeated in the 2009 general elections held in the fall of the same year.[6]

Candidates

NameBornExperienceAnnouncement dateRef.

Pedro Passos Coelho

(age 43)
Coimbra

Social Democratic Youth leader (1990–1995)
Member of Parliament for Lisbon (1991–1999)
18 April 2008[7]
Patinha Antão
(age 62)
Loulé
Member of Parliament for Braga
Member of Parliament for Faro
21 April 2008[8]

Pedro Santana Lopes

(age 52)
Lisbon
24 April 2008[9]

Manuela Ferreira Leite

(age 67)
Lisbon
Minister of Finance (2002–2004)
Minister of Education (1993–1995)
Member of Parliament for Lisbon (1999–2005); (2009–2011)
Member of Parliament for Lisbon (1995–1999)
28 April 2008[10]

Opinion polls

PSD voters

Results

Summary of the May 2008 PSD leadership election results
Candidate31 May 2008
Votes%
Manuela Ferreira Leite17,278 37.90
Pedro Passos Coelho14,160 31.06
Pedro Santana Lopes13,495 29.60
Patinha Antão308 0.68
Total45,241
Valid votes45,241 99.23
Invalid and blank ballots351 0.77
Votes cast / turnout45,592 59.14
Registered voters77,090
Sources: Official results

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://tvi24.iol.pt/politica/psd/menezes-abandona-lideranca-e-convoca-eleicoes "Menezes abandona liderança e convoca eleições"
  2. https://tvi24.iol.pt/politica/18-04-2008/crise-no-psd-distritais-surpreendidas-com-menezes "Crise no PSD: distritais surpreendidas com Menezes"
  3. https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/politica/detalhe/manuela_ferreira_leite_eacute_a_nova_liacuteder_do_psd "Manuela Ferreira Leite é a nova líder do PSD"
  4. https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/manuela-ferreira-leite-a-primeira-mulher-a-dirigir-o-partido-de-sa-carneiro-perfil_n62675 "Manuela Ferreira Leite, a primeira mulher a dirigir o partido de Sá Carneiro - Perfil"
  5. https://tvi24.iol.pt/politica/eleicoes/resultados-oficiais-psd-ganha-europeias "Resultados oficiais: PSD ganha europeias"
  6. https://www.tsf.pt/micro-sites/legislativas-2009/ps-vence-com-3656-por-cento-mais-747-por-cento-que-o-psd-1374326.html "PS vence com 36,56 por cento, mais 7,47 por cento que o PSD"
  7. Web site: Passos Coelho é candidato às eleições no PSD. Público. 18 April 2008. 6 March 2022.
  8. Web site: PSD: Patinha Antão apresenta candidatura irreversível e para vencer . Público. 21 April 2008. 6 March 2022.
  9. Web site: Santana é candidato à liderança do PSD. TVI24. 24 April 2008. 6 March 2022.
  10. Web site: Manuela Ferreira Leite dá início à campanha. TVI24. 28 April 2008. 6 March 2022.