Montenegro re-elected PSD leader with overwhelming vote, dismisses Passos Coelho criticism as 'minor noise'

Luís Montenegro secured his third term as president of Portugal's Social Democratic Party (PSD) in direct elections held on Saturday, running unopposed. The vote, which also selected delegates for the upcoming party congress, saw a significant abstention rate, with only 14,467 of 56,868 eligible members casting ballots—an abstention rate of about 75%.

A mandate to 'make Portugal greater'

In a video message following his re-election, Montenegro pledged not to disappoint the expectations placed on him. He emphasized his commitment to 'work, work, work' to build a 'Greater Portugal,' the motto of his strategic motion. The prime minister highlighted his government's record on taxation and support for the elderly, promising to include both active workers and pensioners in his vision.

We have an enormous responsibility. We are focused on not defrauding the expectations that have been created about us. We know that people have entrusted us with the responsibility of looking after their present and their future, and that is what we are doing.

'Imperturbable in the face of minor noise'

Voting in Espinho, his hometown, Montenegro was repeatedly asked about Pedro Passos Coelho, the former PSD prime minister who has become a vocal critic of the current government. Passos Coelho did not vote in the direct elections. Montenegro dismissed his absence, saying, 'I'll have one less vote, but that's life.' He described the party as 'cohesive, united, focused, and imperturbable in the face of minor noise,' accusing the media of focusing on 'epiphenomena.'

The PSD is very, very well and comes highly recommended. It is a motivated, mobilized party focused on what is most important: serving the people.

Passos Coelho's escalating criticism

Passos Coelho has intensified his criticism of Montenegro's government in recent months. At a recent event also attended by Chega leader André Ventura, he compared 'phony politicians'—those who want to please everyone even more than populists—to 'prostitutes without character.' He also criticized the government's lack of pace, saying 'it would be good if things gained a little more rhythm.'

Internal tensions in Espinho

Despite Montenegro's comfortable overall victory, results from his own Espinho section revealed underlying tensions. One in four local PSD members voted blank or null rather than support him—36 blank votes (15.25%) and 23 null votes (9.75%), against 177 favorable votes. The Espinho section has been an epicenter of discontent, following a contested local leadership election earlier this year between Ricardo Bastos Sousa and Carolina Marques, who had the declared support of Montenegro's wife.

Looking ahead to the Congress

PSD Secretary-General Hugo Soares challenged Passos Coelho to bring his criticisms to the party Congress, scheduled for June 20-21 in Sangalhos, Anadia. 'If I were Pedro Passos Coelho, if I had something to say to the party, I would do it at that moment,' Soares said. Montenegro, meanwhile, expressed pride in leading what he called 'the most reformist government of the last 30 years in Portugal' and did not hide his ambition to achieve an absolute parliamentary majority.