The 2014 Socialist Party prime ministerial primary elections was held on 28 September 2014, the first primary open for non-members of the Socialist Party (PS). It elected the party's candidate for Prime Minister of Portugal in the 2015 legislative election. It was the first time in Portugal that a party had an open primary. There were only two candidates running: António José Seguro, the incumbent secretary-general of the party, and António Costa, the mayor of Lisbon. António Costa won the primary by a landslide, achieving about 68% of the votes against the 32% of António José Seguro.
After the first results were announced, Seguro conceded defeat and resigned as Secretary-General of the Party.
Background
Following the narrow victory of the Socialist Party over the coalition between the PSD and the CDS-PP in the European elections on 25 May 2014, many Socialist Party members and supporters considered the result a disappointment and many blamed Seguro for not being a real alternative to the Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho (PSD). On 27 May, António Costa announced that he would seek the leadership of the Socialist Party.
António José Seguro refused to initiate a leadership contest and accused António Costa of being an opportunist who had broken the deal the two made in early 2013, when António Costa was considering challenging Seguro.
After a bitter meeting of the party leadership members, António Costa included, it was agreed to call a primary election open to supporters of the Socialist Party that would elect the party's candidate for Prime Minister for the following legislative elections in October 2015.
Voting procedures Calendar Nominations for the candidacy were opened on 15 July 2014 and closed on 14 August 2014. To be able to vote, voters had to register between 15 July 2014 and 12 September 2014.
Conditions Unlike previous Socialist Party leadership elections, this was the first primary to be open to the general public. In order to participate to the open primary, voters had to meet the following conditions:
Registered in the Portuguese electoral lists; Sign a declaration of political principles committing to the values of the Party: "freedom, equality and solidarity, and with the compromise of fighting for human rights, justice and peace." Members of the party were automatically eligible to participate.
Candidates NameBornExperienceAntónio José Seguro(age 52)PenamacorLeader of the Opposition (2011–2014)Secretary-general of the Socialist Party (2011–2014)Member of Parliament for Braga (2005–2014)Parliamentary leader of the Socialist Party (2004–2005)Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister (2001–2002)Member of the European Parliament (1999–2001)Secretary of State Assistant to the Prime Minister (1997–1999)Secretary of State for Youth (1995–1997)Member of Parliament for Guarda (1995–1999)Secretary-general of the Socialist Youth (1990–1994)Member of Parliament for Porto (1991–1995)Member of Parliament for Lisbon (1985–1987; 2002–2005)António Costa(age 53)LisbonMayor of Lisbon (2007–2015)Minister of Internal Administration (2005–2007)Vice President of the European Parliament (2004–2005)Member of the European Parliament (2004–2005)Parliamentary leader of the Socialist Party (2002–2004)Member of Parliament for Leiria (2002–2004)Minister of Justice (1999–2002)Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (1997–1999)Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs (1995–1997)Member of Parliament for Lisbon (1991–2002; 2005–2007)
Notable endorsements
Opinion polling Date(s)administered Poll source Sample size Others/Undecided Lead Seguro Costa 29 Sep 2014 Election result 177,350 31.5 67.8 0.7 36.3 24–25 Sep 2014 Eurosondagem 1,001 33.0 50.4 16.6 17.4 4–9 Sep 2014 Eurosondagem 1,011 32.9 55.1 12.0 22.2 31 Aug–3 Sep 2014 Aximage 602 26.4 60.9 12.7 34.5 31 Jul–6 Aug 2014 Eurosondagem 1,033 30.0 59.2 10.8 29.2 3–9 Jul 2014 Eurosondagem 1,014 24.9 68.3 6.8 43.4 4–7 Jul 2014 Aximage 593 26.4 64.1 9.5 37.7 2–5 Jun 2014 Eurosondagem 1,025 36.0 56.2 7.8 20.2 1–4 Jun 2014 Aximage 608 19.6 62.8 17.6 43.2 30 May–1 Jun 2014 Pitagórica 506 18.2 60.5 21.3 42.3
Polling firmFieldwork dateSample sizeAntónio José SeguroAntónio CostaFrancisco AssisJosé SócratesOthers/ UndecidedLeadPitagórica25–29 Mar 201450613.658.96.55.415.645.3Pitagórica24 Feb–1 Mar 201450615.355.68.05.715.440.3Pitagórica20–24 Jan 201450617.059.86.13.613.642.8Pitagórica10–15 Dec 201350314.063.86.16.010.249.8Pitagórica14–19 Oct 201350613.356.39.44.017.043.0Pitagórica24–28 Jul 201350314.255.28.25.916.541.0Pitagórica28 Jun–2 Jul 201350316.649.29.76.518.032.6Pitagórica23–28 May 201350314.345.69.210.420.231.3Pitagórica17–20 Apr 201350320.848.56.18.216.427.7
Results Candidate 28 September 2014 Votes % António Costa 120,188 67.77 António José Seguro 55,928 31.54 Total 176,116 Valid votes 176,116 99.30 Invalid and blank ballots 1,234 0.70 Votes cast / turnout 177,350 70.71 Registered voters 250,811 Source: Primárias 2014 Resultados
References
External links Primárias 2014 Official website PS Official Website Official campaign websites Mobilizar Portugal - António Costa campaign website Seguro 2015 - António José Seguro campaign website