PS Requires Reform According to Alegre: "Party of the Economically Disadvantaged Needs Change"
In parliament, Socialist Party honorary president Manuel Alegre discussed the party's underwhelming performance in recent elections during lunch with several key party members, including José Luís Carneiro, a candidate for the party's leadership. Alegre, reflecting on the poor showing, stated, "This is a serious situation, one that requires serious thinking and reform within the party."
Alegre argued that the party must re-engage with certain sectors of the population, youth, and the economically vulnerable to regain its former status as a party of the people. He acknowledged the task ahead for Carneiro, who is vying to succeed Pedro Nuno Santos, stating, "This is a significant undertaking for José Luís Carneiro."
When asked if Carneiro was the right choice to lead the party at this critical juncture, Alegre said, "Given his current position, he is our candidate. We must support him." Alegre also hinted at the need for political stability, stating that the party must contribute to the country's stability and defend the constitution.
Alberto Arons de Carvalho, one of the party's founders, echoed these sentiments, admitting that the party's results were a lesson for the country and the party itself. He emphasized the importance of a stable government and expressed the belief that the majority of Portuguese people want a government with some duration. When asked what led to the party's results, Carvalho responded, "It's not easy to draw that conclusion, and we need to focus on the future."
During the event, Carneiro praised the party's founders, acknowledging their contributions to the country's democracy. The electoral setback, he argued, should serve as a call for the party to return to its roots and champion the cause of the working class and the underprivileged.
This dismal performance follows the PS's declining results in the 2024 elections, indicating an erosion of the party's support base due to voter dissatisfaction, competition from right-wing populists, and internal party weaknesses. To recover, the party plans to pursue internal reforms, reorient policies towards social justice, and strengthen its organizational structure to better compete in a fragmented political landscape[1][2][3].
[1] "Portugal's Socialist Party Suffers Worst Election Results in its 52-Year History." The Guardian. Mar 29, 2025.[2] "Portugal's Facebook-Voting Congress Highlights Partisan Divide." Associated Press. Nov 24, 2024.[3] "Portugal's Far-Right Chega Party Gains Ground in Legislative Elections." Reuters. Mar 29, 2025.
The Socialist Party needs to reconsider its policies and engage with the youth and economically vulnerable to regain its former status, as stated by Alegre, the party's honorary president. This undertaking is significant, according to Alegre, for Carneiro, a candidate vying for the party's leadership.
To recover from its underwhelming election results, the party intends to pursue internal reforms, reorient policies towards social justice, and strengthen its organizational structure to better compete in the fragmented political landscape, as implied in the provided text.
