The deadline for submitting applications for general secretary ends tomorrow and José Luís Carneiro will, apparently, be the only name to present himself for the position.
Among the signatories of the statement critical of the leadership are former deputies and mayors, such as Ricardo Gonçalves, Elísio Estanque, José Carlos, Joaquim Rosa do Céu, Salomé Rafael, Gustavo Gouveia and Victor Baptista, practically all of them declared supporters of António José Seguro’s candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic. Even, in certain cases, there was a favorable positioning towards a candidate coming from a political center within the PS itself, therefore identifying with the moderation with which José Luís Carneiro has guided his actions.
Some of the signatories had already preferred Seguro over António Costa in the dispute for the leadership of the PS and José Luís Carneiro over Pedro Nuno Santos. Then, the statement, DN found, surprised the current socialist leaders, even if it does not represent a visible critical phalanx.
Since the National Commission, it took close to two months to prepare applications, which was considered an acceptable time for this purpose. The delay in new party leaders was also due to the Presidential election, which followed the Municipal Elections.
To the radio RenaissanceRicardo Gonçalves, former deputy of the Socialist Party elected by Braga and one of the signatories of the statement, highlighted that José Luís Carneiro “promised an in-depth debate about the future of the party” and reported “difficulties in having delegates to Congress, because it takes 100 members with paid quotas to have one delegate”, concluding that “there will be more those inherent than those elected”.
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