A recent poll showed the Lisbon Mayor as the favourite to lead Portugal’s Socialist party, Partido Socialista.
Conducted by Eurosondagem on behalf of Expresso newspaper and SIC television, the poll revealed that António Costa would have been voted for the leading role in the main opposition party, with 49.5% in favour.
The current PS leader, António José Seguro, received 33.8% of the votes, while 16.7% “didn’t know” or “didn’t respond”. A recent meeting of Socialist party supporters saw António Costa and António José Seguro at loggerheads over the top post.
The Lisbon Mayor has since confirmed that he won’t be running as candidate for the PS leadership, while José Seguro has reiterated that there will be a Socialist prime ministerial candidate for the next general elections, and that will be him.