(Updated) PSD: Rui Rio wins elections and becomes the 18th president of the party.
Rui Rio Santana Lopes won the internal elections in the PSD and is the new chairman of the Social Democrats. Beja won with Santana Lopes 50,7% of the vote.
According to the provisional results obtained by Lusa, Rio, with 22.611 votes and 54,37%, He won direct elections with a lead of 3.617 votes on Santana, that collected 18.974 (45,63%).
Of 70.622 militants quotas days, voted 44.254, which corresponds to an abstention rate of about 40%. There have 440 blank votes and 229 spoiled ballots.
Rui Rio won in 13 the 23 PSD structures, while Santana Lopes was voted in 11.
The former mayor of Porto won in five of the six largest structures in terms of voting and Santana Lopes in one, in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, the second largest district, with 57% of the vote. In contrast, Rio won in Oporto, with 58% percent of votes, Aveiro, with 62%, Braga, 53,5%, Madeira, Close of 54%, e Vila Real, almost 66%.
Rui Rio also won in Bragança, with 58% of the vote, Lighthouse (53,7%), Watch (52%), Leiria (59%), Santarém (60%), Viana do Castelo (64%) e Viseu (64,5%).
Turn, Santana Lopes won in Beja, with 50,7% of the vote, withe Castle (55,8%), Coimbra (50,5%), Évora (51%), Portalegre (65,7%), Setúbal (Close of 65%), Lisbon West Area (53%), Azores (66%) and in the European circles (75%) and Outside Europe (72%), in the latter case of still provisional data.
The winner of the internal elections of the PSD started by highlighting “long democratic struggle of more than three months” campaign and addressed a “heartfelt thanks” the elements that supported his candidacy.
highlighted, among others, the support of Francisco Pinto Balsemão, number founder and 1 party, “that gave strength and credibility to the candidacy”.
“The PSD was not founded to be a club of friends”, said, stressing that the party intends to be “an alternative government”.
Santana Lopes admitted, this Saturday, who left for the race to succeed Passos Coelho at a disadvantage to Rui Rio, who have walked on the ground much longer.
“The PPD / PSD chose”, He began by saying Santana Lopes, cerca the 22.30 hours, known after the victory of Rui Rio to party leadership.
