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."Menezes abandona liderança e convoca eleições", TVI24, 17 April 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2022.

Menezes was facing heavy internal criticism for his leadership and opposition strategy but, nonetheless, his resignation surprised party members and structures."Crise no PSD: distritais surpreendidas com Menezes", TVI24, 18 April 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2022. 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%."Manuela Ferreira Leite é a nova líder do PSD", Jornal de Negócios, 31 May 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2022. 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."Manuela Ferreira Leite, a primeira mulher a dirigir o partido de Sá Carneiro - Perfil", RTP, 31 May 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2022.

Ferreira Leite would lead the PSD to victory in the 2009 European Parliament election in Portugal,"Resultados oficiais: PSD ganha europeias", TVI24, 7 June 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2022. but was defeated in the 2009 general elections held in the fall of the same year."PS vence com 36,56 por cento, mais 7,47 por cento que o PSD", TSF, 28 September 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2022.

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 Mário Patinha Antão (age 62)Loulé Member of Parliament for Braga Member of Parliament for Faro 21 April 2008 Pedro Santana Lopes (age 52)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 24 April 2008 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

Withrew

António Neto da Silva – former Secretary of State of Foreign Trade (1990–1991)

Opinion polls All voters Polling firm/Commissioner Fieldwork date Sample size Others/Undecided LeadFerreira LeitePassos CoelhoSantana LopesPatinha Antão Marktest 17–20 May 2008 80027.3 12.2 9.6 50.9 15.1 Intercampus 16–20 May 2008 43.3 19.2 20.2 1.0 16.3 23.1 Eurosondagem 23–29 Apr 2008 29 15.5 25 3 27.5 4

PSD voters Polling firm/Commissioner Fieldwork date Sample size Others/Undecided LeadFerreira LeitePassos CoelhoSantana LopesPatinha Antão Marktest 17–20 May 2008 80043.2 9.1 17.4 30.3 25.8 Aximage 5–9 May 2008 40.8 3.0 13.2 43.0 27.6

Results + Summary of the May 2008 PSD leadership election results Candidate 31 May 2008 Votes % Manuela Ferreira Leite 17,278 37.90 Pedro Passos Coelho 14,160 31.06 Pedro Santana Lopes 13,495 29.60 Patinha Antão 308 0.68 Total 45,241 Valid votes 45,241 99.23 Invalid and blank ballots 351 0.77 Votes cast / turnout 45,592 59.14 Registered voters 77,090 Sources: Official results

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

References

External links PSD Official Website