The PS National Commission meets this Saturday to discuss the results of legislative elections and define the internal calendar for the election of the new secretary general of the party. This is one navigating guide the socialist actuality.
What is it the National Commission?
A and the maximum deliberative agency of PS among the party congresses. Has the function determineRA Party line of action, establishing the political action it must have. It is also up to you to sell the application of this political line that was defined.
It is to her that elect the secretary general party (and censor the performance ofsteif you think it should do so, to callr new elections).
It is also to the National Commission that fits mark national congresses, approve the accounts and the regulations party. E and She who decides if any activist should be suspended for harming the good name of the PS.
Who makes up the National Commission?
Saccording to the PS statutes, The National Commission is Composta pelThe Secretary General (in this Height, still Pedro Nuno Santos) e for the party president (Carlos César), assim as the honorary president (Manuel Alegre) and o sEcretary-geral adwelling (João Torres). To them, join thes presidentss the National Association of Municipalities and the National Association of Parishes, with the mold militants of PS (Currently, Luísa Salgueiro and Jorge Veloso).
Integrate it, yet, More than two hundred members elected directly at Congressincluding 10% members socialist youthand the secretary general of the sameos president dFederations, PS/Azores and PS/Madeira e os leaders of the socialist union trend, of the National Association of Socialist Presidents e the Socialist women – equality and rights.
They also integrate the National Commission, According to the party’s statutes, os members of the National Secretariat and the Permanent Commissionin addition dos directors of the press agencies PS official – but without having vote.
What will happen this Saturday?
Usually, the National Commission meets at least every three months. But this time, the PS President convocor, For this Saturday, an extraordinary meeting. This is because the of the position, after the in the legislative elections for the party – what, For the first time in history, it will be about to stop being one of the two largest political forces in Parliament, . At the time, Pedro Nuno Santos said that pretendia to leave “already” or positionfor not wanting to be “a hindrance in the decisions “that the PS has to make.
ASSIM, A extraordinary meeting convened by Carlos César it happens This Saturday, May 24, From 11 am, No Hotel Altis, in Lisbon.
In the meeting order of the meeting are two points: First, analysis of the political situation, in view of the results of the legislatures; and second, a approval of internal calendars and electoral regulations. Qto say that it will be at this meeting that should be defined when will be the elections for the next secretary general of the PS.
Carlos César should propor has National Commission to hold elections internal at the end of June or early July. O congress party may, however, be postponed after the municipal electionss (What awill contain in September or in October).
This is the strongest hypothesis and which should be fulfilled If no more candidacies appear to leadership. Only Surgissin more socialists wanting to dispute the place of secretary general, Carlos César could also choose to postpone the internal elections until after the municipalities.
Who will be a candidate for the new leadership?
Where No one else aVanted, to confirm itself as a single candidate – without any competition – José Luís Carneiro should even be the next secretary general of the PS. He who has argued that the party must enable the government that will enter into office and establish commitments to “contribute to political stability.”
The three other Names more internally pointed out as possible candidates eventually dismissed this hypothesis. They are the old ministers Mariana Vieira da Silva, Fernando Medina and Alexandra Leitão.
MARIANA VIEIRA DA SILVA defended the need for reflection within the party e even declared that José Luís Carneiro had no “priority” Just because I thought I applied in the next Congress. At the last minute, do not present an application, in favor of the “party unit”in a moment of municipal elections. The same claimed Fernando Medina – that has publicly defended the “dialogue” between PS and AD.
The parliamentary leader – and now candidate for the Lisbon Chamber – (still very connoted with the leadership of Pedro Nuno Santos) had been faster and the first of the three putting yourself out of the race.
Unavailableis They also declared themselves names as Marta feared, Duarte Lamb, Ana Catarina Mendes e Álvaro Beleza. As for the popular governor of Banco de Portugal, -which was appointed as successor to Prime Minister, after the resignation of António Costa-did not even want to talk about itwhen questioned.
Who was not satisfied with this unique application solution was Miguel Prata Roque. The socialist already had , Suggering that there was only “at the end of October”so that there is time for discussion and emergence of new candidacies.
Candidators how, by chance, a of itself. The commentator of SIC Notícias Pondera advance como adversaro by José Luís Carneiro. Silver Roque says he wants cOMBATER THE “CONSENSOS BALOFOS”considering that the“False unit” Do not reconcile the PS with voters.
While there is no election of the new secretary-general, it is the party president, Carlos César, who will interim the place. This is right in the party statutes.
What have the socialists say?
One Much of PS It has been vocal a defendr thate a choice of the new leader should only to happen After the autumnies of the fall.The dates of June or July They are hasty, in the opinion of verys.
Six members of the National Commission – Including Daniel Adrião,leadership candidate PS –will present, this Saturday, a proposal of deliberation with a calendar alternative to thought by Carlos César. And also a different election form. They want the elections to happen Only in October or November and in the format of open primary (That is, to which they may compete not only militants but also party supporters).
On the fringes of this formal positiontem been Great the chat. Francisco Assis, For example, he said he did not make sense an internal dispute in the party in atura in to be “concentrate efforts in the municipal process”.
Former member of the government of António Costa are of the same opinion. António Mendonça Mendes, for example, it considers that the party must be concentrated in the municipalities and to make a joint reflection, rejecting “Precipitation regarding decisions for the future”. Duarte Cordeiro argued that the party owes Choose among the best and not “elect the fastest”. E JoCOAST asked for a “internal management solution” until after the municipal elections to concentrate the debate in the campaign. Also names like e Porfírio Silva marked the need to wait for local elections.
Only it’s in sense who have manifested the current PS Presidents. Defend a quick and unit solutioncom direct elections until summerpaRA that a municipal election campaign is not affected by an internal dispute of leadership.
Luísa Salgueiroa President of the National Association of Municipalities considers that the scenario of “A single candidate” is “the most appropriate” And he says he will have “the support of all socialist militants.” AND Pedro RibeiroOLIDER OF National Association of Socialist Presidents, said that the PS has to “quickly create the conditions for elect a secretary general as soon as possible“.
Position that meets, for example, from the taken by former Secretary-General PS Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues and the old ministers José António Vieira da Silva e Pedro Silva Pereirawhich consider that a change of rapid leadera can help the socialists in the challenge of the municipalities.
In any case, It will be necessary to change in the PS more things than the leader. Who warns is the honorary president of the party. Manuel Alegre considers that the party is closed about itself and argues that and necessary Correct Structural Problems, to avoid The decay PS.
