The Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (PS), Pedro Nuno Santos, stated on Monday that the party has "a group of candidates" for the European elections who deserve the "majority preference" of the Portuguese, arguing that they are people who "have proven themselves" and who are leading the PS to present itself with "confidence" for the June elections.

"We will work to win", began Pedro Nuno Santos, in a statement at the PS national headquarters.

"What I believe is that, given the list we have made, with seriousness, with renewal, with deep respect for equality and the need to have an egalitarian list, with experienced staff, whether in government, parliament, or local government, we have a quality list, which I believe, obviously in the opinion of the PS Secretary-General, deserves to have the majority preference of the Portuguese and that is what we are going to work for", he added.

The Socialist leader noted that the party has "a group of candidates who deserve this majority preference".

"The Portuguese know our candidates, the work they do in politics", he stressed, referring to the fact that they "have proven themselves". "And that is why we present ourselves with confidence", he added.

It should be noted that the PS list for the European elections, which will be headed by former minister Marta Temido and which is completely new, was approved today by the National Political Commission with 76% of the votes in favour.

The meeting of the PS National Political Commission, which took place in Largo do Rato, approved the choices of the PS leader, Pedro Nuno Santos, for the European elections on 9 June, a list that does not include any name that is currently a Member of the European Parliament.

Marta Temido, current deputy and former Minister of Health in three of António Costa's governments, leads this list, followed by Francisco Assis, currently a PS deputy and former president of the Economic and Social Council, and by Ana Catarina Mendes, also a deputy and former minister.

Next is Bruno Gonçalves, Secretary-General of the Young Socialists International, and André Rodrigues, PS deputy in the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

In sixth place is Carla Tavares, Mayor of Amadora and President of the Lisbon Metropolitan Council, followed by Isilda Gomes -- Mayor of Portimão and of the PS National Association of Mayors.

Sérgio Gonçalves, PS deputy in the Legislative Assembly of Madeira and former president of PS/Madeira, appears in eighth place and in ninth -- the PS currently has nine MEPs -- is Miguel Lemos, currently chairman of the board of directors of Águas de Gaia.

Here is the complete list of candidates for the European elections approved today by the PS Political Commission:

1. Marta Temido
2.  Francisco Assis
3. Ana Catarina Mendes
4. Bruno Gonçalves
5. André Rodrigues
6. Carla Tavares
7. Isilda Gomes
8. Sérgio Gonçalves
9. Miguel Lemos
10. Joana Sá Pereira
11. Pedro do Carmo
12. Inês João Rodrigues
13. Jorge Manuel Santos Conde
14. Lúcia Silva
15. Mário Balsa
16. Inês Pinto
17. Francisco Themudo
18. Margarida Cardoso
19. Ana Cláudia Moreira
20. Hélio Fazendeiro
21. João Soares

Read Also: Marta Temido will be the head of the PS list for the European elections (Portuguese version)