Pedro Santana Lopes returns to PSD at congress, refuses to apologise for 2018 departure
Former Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes re-joined the Social Democratic Party (PSD) at its congress in Sangalhos on Friday night, delivering a speech that lavished praise on Luís Montenegro's government while pointedly refusing to apologise for leaving the party in 2018.
Late-night surprise at Sangalhos
Pedro Santana Lopes entered the Velódromo de Sangalhos just before midnight on 20 June, accompanied by PSD secretary-general Hugo Soares. Congress president Miguel Albuquerque announced the return of the former prime minister and party leader as a "pleasant surprise" to the remaining delegates. Santana Lopes then embraced current prime minister and PSD leader Luís Montenegro before taking the podium for the first time at a party congress since 2018.
I don't like to be cynical or sly. While I thank those who welcome me back, I am not capable of apologising. I acted according to my conscience. Right or wrong, I did what I felt I had to do.
A political journey back
Santana Lopes recalled his defeat to Rui Rio in the 2018 leadership contest. He subsequently left the PSD, founded the Aliança party (which he later abandoned), and won the Figueira da Foz mayoralty as an independent in 2021. Last year he was re-elected with PSD backing. His return to full party militancy had been anticipated since he left Aliança behind and was actively encouraged by Montenegro, who visited Figueira da Foz soon after becoming leader.
- Loses PSD leadership to Rui Rio and leaves the party.
- Founds the Aliança party and contests European elections.
- Wins Figueira da Foz mayoral election as an independent.
- Re-elected mayor with PSD support.
- Re-joins PSD as a full militant at the Sangalhos congress.
Praise for Montenegro and government
In what the Observador described as "lavish praise," Santana Lopes called Montenegro a "statesman" and said the party must be proud of the government's direction. He singled out the health minister's "enormous courage" in reforming temporary doctor contracts and, in a jab at former PSD leader Pedro Passos Coelho, assured Montenegro: "Whoever might have run against you, you would have won by a wide margin."
We must be proud of the path that PPD-PSD has taken under Luís Montenegro's leadership.
Warnings on the right
Addressing the broader political landscape, Santana Lopes took aim at the Chega party and its leader André Ventura. He reminded delegates of his earlier prediction that Rui Rio's alignment toward the centre-left would spawn a new right-wing force. He called Rio's pact with former prime minister António Costa a "crass error" that had consequences for the Portuguese right, and noted the "spectacle" of the labour reform being unexpectedly struck down by Ventura.
