In brief
Santana Lopes re-joined the PSD at the Sangalhos congress but refused to say sorry for quitting the party in 2018, stating he acted according to his conscience.
He delivered strong praise for Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the PSD-led executive, specifically commending the health minister's reforms.
After losing the PSD leadership to Rui Rio, Santana Lopes left to form Aliança, later returned as an independent mayor, and was re-elected with PSD support before re-joining full militancy.
He criticised Rui Rio's centrist pact and warned that it had enabled the rise of Chega, while mocking André Ventura's role in blocking a labour reform.
- 2021Wins Figueira da Foz mayoral election as an independent.
- 2024Re-elected mayor with PSD support.
- 20 JunRe-joins PSD as a full militant at the Sangalhos congress.
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.
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.