Pedro Santana Lopes

{{Short description|Portuguese lawyer and politician (born 1956)}}

{{Redirect|Santana Lopes|the fictional character in Glee|Santana Lopez}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Pedro Santana Lopes

| honorific-suffix = GCC

| image = Pedro Santana Lopes 01.jpg

| caption = Santana Lopes in 2005

| office1 = Mayor of Figueira da Foz

| predecessor1 = Carlos Monteiro

| term_start1 = 17 October 2021

| predecessor2 = Aguiar de Carvalho

| successor2 = António Duarte Silva

| term_start2 = 14 December 1997

| term_end2 = 16 December 2001

| order =

| office = Prime Minister of Portugal

| term_start = 17 July 2004

| term_end = 12 March 2005

| president = Jorge Sampaio

| predecessor = José Manuel Barroso

| successor = José Sócrates

| office4 = Chair of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa

| term_start4 = 14 September 2011

| term_end4 = 20 October 2017

| predecessor4 = Rui Cunha

| successor4 = Edmundo Martinho

| office5 = Mayor of Lisbon

| term_start5 = 14 March 2005

| term_end5 = 28 October 2005

| deputy5 =

| predecessor5 = Carmona Rodrigues

| successor5 = Carmona Rodrigues

| term_start6 = 23 January 2002

| term_end6 = 17 July 2004

| deputy6 =

| predecessor6 = João Soares

| successor6 = Carmona Rodrigues

| office7 =

| office8 = President of the Social Democratic Party

| term_start8 = 30 June 2004

| term_end8 = 10 April 2005

| 1blankname8 = {{nowrap|Secretary-General}}

| 1namedata8 = Miguel Relvas

| predecessor8 = José Manuel Barroso

| successor8 = Luís Marques Mendes

| office9 = Secretary of State for Culture

| primeminister9 = Aníbal Cavaco Silva

| predecessor9 = Teresa Gouveia

| successor9 = Manuel Frexes

| term_start9 = 9 January 1990

| term_end9 = 30 December 1994

| office10 = Secretary of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers

| primeminister10 = Aníbal Cavaco Silva

| predecessor10 = Alfredo Barroso

| successor10 = Luís Marques Mendes

| term_start10 = 6 November 1985

| term_end10 = 17 August 1987

| office11 = President of Sporting CP

| term_start11 = 2 June 1995

| term_end11 = 11 April 1996

| predecessor11 = Sousa Cintra

| successor11 = José Roquette

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|6|29|df=y}}

| birth_place = Lisbon, Portugal

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Independent (2021–present)

| otherparty = Social Democratic (1976–2018)
Alliance (2018–2021)

| spouse = {{marriage|Maria Isabel Marques Dias|1979||end=div}}
{{marriage|Maria Teresa de Arriaga|1983||end=div}}

| children = 5

| alma_mater = University of Lisbon

| signature = Assinatura Pedro Santana Lopes.svg

| website =

| office12 = {{MP PT}}

| term_start12 = 29 October 2005

| term_end12 = 14 October 2009

| term_start13 = 17 December 2001

| term_end13 = 22 January 2002

| term_start14 = 5 October 1980

| term_end14 = 30 September 1995

| constituency12 = Lisbon

| constituency13 = Lisbon

| constituency14 = Lisbon

| office15 = Member of the European Parliament

| term_start15 = 14 September 1987

| term_end15 = 24 July 1989

| constituency15 = Portugal

| relatives = Kaúlza de Arriaga (former father-in-law)
Manuela Ferreira Leite (cousin)

}}

Pedro Miguel de Santana Lopes {{Post-nominals|list=GCC}} ({{IPA|pt|ˈpeðɾu sɐ̃ˈtɐnɐ ˈlɔpɨʃ}}; born 29 June 1956) is a Portuguese lawyer and politician, who is the current mayor of Figueira da Foz. He most notably served as prime minister of Portugal from 2004 to 2005.

Background and early life

Pedro Santana Lopes was born in Campo Grande, Lisbon, to Aníbal Luís Lopes (b. Lisbon, São Sebastião da Pedreira, 17 February 1933), a company administrator whose maternal grandfather's maternal grandfather was a relative of João Brandão,Raízes e Memórias, Associação Portuguesa de Genealogia, Lisboa and wife (m. Lisbon, São Sebastião da Pedreira, 27 February 1954) Maria Ivone Risques Pereira de Santana (Lisbon, São Sebastião da Pedreira, 3 May 1931 – Lisbon, 23 March 1999), a half-great-great-great-niece of the 2nd Baron of Brissos.

He graduated as a Licentiate in law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, where he was the leader of the Student Union, becoming a lawyer.

Political career

He joined the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in 1976. There he started his career as a deputy to the Assembly of the Republic.

In 1979, he became a legal advisor to Prime Minister Francisco Sá Carneiro, and has identified himself as a follower of his for all his political life.

In 1986, he became the assistant state secretary to Prime Minister Aníbal Cavaco Silva, an office he left the next year to lead to PSD list to the European Parliament, where he remained for two years of his five-year-term.

In 1990, Cavaco Silva appointed him to the government post of Secretary of State for Culture. He left the office in 1994, in disagreement with Cavaco, and returned to law practice. In the 1997 local elections, he ran successfully to become mayor of Figueira da Foz. He decided not to seek a second term there, and instead ran for mayor of Lisbon in the 2001 local elections, defeating the incumbent João Soares and becoming one of the biggest surprises of the electoral night.

Prime minister

When José Manuel Durão Barroso resigned in July 2004 to take up the presidency of the European Commission, Santana Lopes became the president of PSD. At the time, his party had a coalition government with the CDS - People's Party, which held a parliamentary majority, and therefore he was nominated prime minister of the XVI Constitutional Government. His term as mayor of Lisbon was automatically suspended, with his deputy Carmona Rodrigues taking over his duties.

The leadership of Santana Lopes was marked by a number of inherited economic and political problems. When his party took power, after the 2002 legislative elections, the country's economy was in a poor state, with a rising government-spending deficit, partially because of policies focused on public expenditure by the previous governments (led by António Guterres of the Socialist Party) and the early 2000s recession. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, "Portugal became the first country to breach the EU's 'excessive deficit' rule with a budget deficit of 4.4% of GDP in 2001, well above the 3% of GDP ceiling set by the EU's Stability and Growth Pact."[http://www.viewswire.com/index.asp?layout=display_print&doc_id=1667936966 Economist Intelligence Unit, 11 January 2005] The situation inherited by Santana Lopes was a little better, as the previous government led by Barroso had been able to comply with European Union directives regarding the deficit by selling state assets.

Santana Lopes himself failed to gain a reputation as a competent prime minister.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} His unusual rise to power, as Barroso's successor rather than by election, contributed to these difficulties, despite his nomination being entirely constitutional.

The short career of Santana Lopes as prime minister began with some members of government being shuffled between departments on the same afternoon as the government was being inaugurated. His minister of Defence Paulo Portas looked surprised during the ceremony when he was announced as the Minister for National Defence and Sea Affairs. Portas' look of surprise when the name of his office was announced was broadcast live on television.

Santana Lopes' period in office was also marked by chaos in the allocation of teachers to schools{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} (more than a month after classes officially started, and resulting from alleged incompetence of the IT provider (designated during the previous Government); the problem was swiftly solved by another small provider), and by claims of pressure exerted on the press, including arranging for the replacement of the information director of the public television channel RTP, and pressing private television channel TVI to tone down the criticism of him by a political commentator, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa,{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} a former leader of his own party, who consequently left the channel.

Santana Lopes' demise as head of government was sealed on 30 November 2004 when President Jorge Sampaio, a member of the opposing party, announced that he was calling an early Parliament election for February 2005, from which a new government would be formed, after Henrique Chaves, a Santana loyalist, resigned after four days as Minister for Sport, claiming that he lacked "loyalty and truth".{{ref|http://www.tsf.pt/online/portugal/interior.asp?id_artigo=TSF156592}}

Santana Lopes formally tendered his resignation on 11 December, and his government assumed just a caretaker role until the election. He went on to be defeated in the 2005 legislative elections which was won by the Socialist Party led by José Sócrates. Santana resigned as party leader two days later, although he still briefly assumed the informal position of leader of the opposition, until the election of Luís Marques Mendes as new party leader.

Subsequent career and activities

Despite his defeat in the 2005 legislative elections, Santana Lopes retained his seat at the Assembly of the Republic. He would also resume his functions as mayor of Lisbon, which had been suspended since he took office as prime minister. However, he decided not to seek another term on the 2005 local elections, being succeeded by his deputy, Carmona Rodrigues, who had also replaced him during his premiership. In October 2007, after the election of Luís Filipe Menezes as leader of the Social Democratic Party, he was invited to lead the PSD Parliamentary Group, a position he held until Menezes' resignation in June 2008.

On the 2009 local elections, Santana Lopes ran again for mayor of Lisbon, supported by his party and by the CDS - People's Party, the Earth Party and the People's Monarchist Party. This coalition was, however, unable to prevent the Socialist Party, led by António Costa, to achieve a big victory. Santana Lopes assumed the position of leader of the opposition in the municipality.{{cite web|title=Santana Lopes fica na Câmara de Lisboa como vereador|url=https://www.dn.pt/portugal/sul/interior/santana-lopes-fica-na-camara-de-lisboa-como-vereador-1405571.html|website=dn.pt/|date=30 October 2009 |publisher=Diário de Notícias|access-date=19 August 2018|language=pt}}

In September 2011, Santana Lopes was nominated by Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho to assume leadership of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, a charity that runs Portugal's national lottery. In March 2016, the new prime minister, António Costa, nominated Santana Lopes for a new term.

In October 2017, Santana Lopes announced the intention to run again for the leadership of the Social Democratic Party.Paul Ames (12 January 2018), [https://www.politico.eu/article/rui-rio-pedro-santana-lopes-battle-for-control-of-portuguese-right/ Thomson and Thompson battle for control of Portuguese right] Politico Europe. He resigned leadership of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa in order to do so, but was defeated by Rui Rio. After the party election, both Rio and Santana tried to cooperate on several levels,{{cite web|title=Rui Rio e Santana Lopes chegam a acordo para listas de unidade|url=https://www.cmjornal.pt/politica/detalhe/alcancado-acordo-entre-rui-rio-e-santana-lopes-para-listas-de-unidade|website=cmjornal.pt|date=17 February 2018 |publisher=Correio da Manhã|access-date=19 August 2018|language=pt}} an effort which was not successful from Santana's point of view.{{cite web|title=Santana Lopes em rota de colisão com Rui Rio|url=https://www.publico.pt/2018/04/17/politica/noticia/santana-lopes-em-rota-de-colisao-com-rui-rio-1810651|website=publico.pt|date=17 April 2018 |publisher=Público|access-date=19 August 2018|language=pt}} He grew increasingly disgruntled with the course of action imposed by Rui Rio, and in June 2018 announced he would be ending his 42 years of party membership and would seek to create a new political party.{{cite web|title=Santana Lopes corta relação com o PSD e pode fundar novo partido|url=https://www.publico.pt/2018/06/27/politica/noticia/santana-lopes-corta-relacao-com-o-psd-e-pode-fundar-novo-partido-1836141|website=publico.pt|date=27 June 2018 |publisher=Público|access-date=19 August 2018|language=pt}}{{cite web|title=Santana Lopes abandona PSD e prepara-se para formar um novo partido|url=https://www.cmjornal.pt/politica/detalhe/pedro-santana-lopes-abandona-o-psd-e-prepara-se-para-formar-um-novo-partido|website=cmjornal.pt|date=4 August 2018 |publisher=Correio da Manhã|access-date=19 August 2018|language=pt}}

Alliance (2018–2021)

On 18 August 2018, it was revealed the new party headed and co-founded{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Santana Lopes deixa Aliança, partido que fundou em 2018 |url=https://observador.pt/2021/01/25/santana-lopes-deixa-alianca-partido-que-fundou-em-2018/ |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT}} by Santana Lopes was to be called Alliance ({{langx|pt|Aliança}}).{{cite web|title="Aliança". O novo partido de Santana Lopes já tem nome e começa a ganhar forma|url=https://observador.pt/2018/08/18/alianca-o-novo-partido-de-santana-lopes-ja-tem-nome-e-comeca-a-ganhar-forma/|website=observador.pt|publisher=Observador|access-date=19 August 2018|language=pt}} The party submitted the legally required paperwork to the Constitutional Court and was officially registered on 23 October.

Immediately after the official registration, the party started working on the campaign for the 2019 European Parliament election. Santana Lopes had already said, even before the party was registered, that he would not be running in the election, and that its top candidate would be announced in the near future.{{cite web|title=Santana Lopes confirma: não será candidato às europeias|url=https://expresso.pt/politica/2018-08-19-Santana-Lopes-confirma-nao-sera-candidato-as-europeias|website=expresso.pt|date=19 August 2018 |publisher=Expresso|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} On 2 December 2018, the party formally announced Paulo de Almeida Sande, a professor of European affairs and advisor of the president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, as its top candidate. While being generally considered to have a profound knowledge of European issues, Paulo Sande lacked recognition next to the general public, and relied heavily on Santana's personal popularity to engage with supporters and potential voters.{{cite web|title=Sande é assessor de Marcelo e será cabeça de lista de Santana Lopes às europeias|url=https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/politica/detalhe/sande-e-assessor-de-marcelo-e-sera-cabeca-de-lista-de-santana-lopes-as-europeias|website=jornaldenegocios.pt|publisher=Jornal de Negócios|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} In March 2019, Santana Lopes said that the party's objective would be to elect at least one MEP, with three being a good result.{{cite web|title=Europeias: Santana Lopes diz que "boa vitória" será eleger três deputados|url=https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/politica/detalhe/europeias-santana-lopes-diz-que-boa-vitoria-sera-eleger-tres-deputados|website=jornaldenegocios.pt|publisher=Jornal de Negócios|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} Paulo Sande fared well in the televised debates, but the party suffered a heavy blow to its campaign on 15 May 2019, when Santana and Sande were involved in a car crash on the A1 motorway. They were heading to a campaign rally in Cascais after an event in Coimbra when, between Soure and Pombal, Santana fell asleep and lost control of the vehicle, a Lexus GS rented in name of his law firm. The car slid slowly to the left, hitting the central reservation barrier and veering abruptly to the right, crashing out of the road and tumbling several times before coming to a standstill in an overturned position. No other vehicles were involved in the accident, but other drivers witnessed it and alerted the emergency services. Paulo Sande was able to get out of the wrecked car by his own means; he tried to help Santana but was unable to release him. Santana Lopes would only be removed from the wreckage by the emergency services, and was transported by helicopter to Coimbra hospital, to where Sande was also taken on an ambulance.{{cite web|title=Europeias: Santana Lopes ficou encarcerado no carro após aparatoso acidente|url=https://www.dn.pt/pais/europeias-paulo-sande-e-santana-lopes-envolvidos-em-acidente-rodoviario-na-zona-de-leiria-10902164.html|website=dn.pt|date=15 May 2019 |publisher=Diário de Notícias|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} The accident was reported by several media outlets, which prompted Alliance to immediately suspend its campaign.{{cite web|title=Aliança suspende campanha. Santana Lopes e Paulo Sande sofrem acidente de carro|url=https://eco.sapo.pt/2019/05/15/alianca-suspende-campanha-santana-lopes-e-paulo-sande-sofrem-acidente-de-carro/|website=eco.sapo.pt|date=15 May 2019 |publisher=Eco|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} Paulo Sande suffered only minor injuries and was discharged from the hospital a few hours later, while Santana spent the night in observation, being discharged on the next day after several exams revealed no significant lesions; he was, however, told by doctors to rest for some days in order to ensure a full recovery.{{cite web|title=Santana Lopes já teve alta|url=https://www.dn.pt/poder/santana-lopes-bem-disposto-e-a-ser-reavaliado-10904417.html|website=dn.pt|date=16 May 2019 |publisher=Diário de Notícias|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} This meant that, with little more than a week to the election day, Paulo Sande was largely left to campaign alone, although Santana appeared on a video three days before the election to urge people to vote.{{cite web|title=Na primeira aparição depois do acidente, numa mensagem em vídeo, Santana Lopes apelou ao voto|url=https://observador.pt/2019/05/23/na-primeira-aparicao-depois-do-acidente-santana-lopes-apelou-ao-voto/|website=dn.pt|publisher=Observador|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} The party obtained 1,86% of the vote and elected no MEPs.

Next on the schedule were the 2019 legislative elections. The party made a campaign of clear opposition to the incumbent government led by António Costa. Santana Lopes said that Alliance hoped to elect two to three MPs in Lisbon district, and eventually some more in Porto and Braga districts; he also stressed that his party would never support a government of the Socialist Party even in the event of a hung parliament.{{cite web|title=Santana Lopes: "Espero eleger em Lisboa dois ou três deputados"|url=https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/noticias/santana-lopes-espero-eleger-em-lisboa-dois-ou-tres-deputados-484439|website=jornaleconomico.sapo.pt|date=30 August 2019 |publisher=O Jornal Económico|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} Santana's predictions for the election were based at the party's results in the European elections. During a campaign event in Lisbon, he told that Alliance obtained 3% in the district at the European elections, and that the same result would allow the party to elect two MPs in the legislative vote.{{cite web|title=Santana Lopes otimista na eleição de dois deputados|url=https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/politica/pedro-santana-lopes-otimista-na-eleicao-de-dois-deputados--11335307.html|website=tsf.pt|date=24 September 2019 |publisher=TSF|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} This line of thought proved to be flawed as the party performed considerably worse, obtaining only 0,77% of the vote on national level and electing no MPs. Even in Lisbon district, where it is easier for a small party to elect an MP, the party scored 1,27% of the vote, considerably lower than the 3% anticipated by Santana. On the election night, he admitted for the first time that he could relinquish party leadership.{{cite web|title=Santana admite deixar liderança da Aliança |url=https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/legislativas-2019/2019-10-06-Santana-admite-deixar-lideranca-da-Alianca|website=sicnoticias.pt|date=6 October 2019 |publisher=SIC Notícias|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}}

Without further national elections in the near future, and with all the objectives unachieved, Santana Lopes suspended his executive functions as Alliance's leader on 15 May 2020, and announced a period of reorganisation of the party.{{cite web|title=Santana pediu dispensa de funções executivas no Aliança |url=https://sol.sapo.pt/artigo/696683/santana-pediu-dispensa-de-funcoes-executivas-no-alianca|website=sol.sapo.pt|date=15 May 2020 |publisher=Nascer do Sol|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} On 28 August 2020, it was announced that he would not seek re-election as party leader at the next congress,{{cite web|title=Santana Lopes abandona liderança da Aliança|url=https://www.jn.pt/nacional/santana-lopes-abandona-lideranca-da-alianca-12561299.html|website=jn.pt|publisher=Jornal de Notícias|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} where he was succeeded by Paulo Bento.{{cite web|title=Paulo Bento substitui Santana Lopes à frente da Aliança |url=https://www.publico.pt/2020/09/27/politica/noticia/paulo-bento-substitui-santana-lopes-frente-alianca-1933070|website=publico.pt|date=27 September 2020 |publisher=Público|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} On 25 January 2021, Alliance announced that Santana Lopes had sent a request for his party membership to be terminated. He considered that Alliance could only have a future without him, citing the fact that many people still link him to the Social Democratic Party as the main reason.{{cite web|title=Santana Lopes deixa Aliança, partido que fundou em 2018|url=https://www.publico.pt/2021/01/25/politica/noticia/santana-lopes-deixa-alianca-partido-fundou-2018-1947768|website=publico.pt|date=25 January 2021 |publisher=Público|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}}

Independent politician and return to Figueira da Foz

After Santana's announcement that he was leaving Alliance leadership, rumours started circulating that he could be preparing a return to the Social Democratic Party. In October 2020, at least one media outlet reported that its leader, Rui Rio, wanted Santana Lopes to be the party candidate for mayor of Sintra;{{cite web|title=Rio quer Santana candidato a Sintra|url=https://sol.sapo.pt/artigo/713639/rio-quer-santana-candidato-a-sintra|website=sol.sapo.pt|date=31 October 2020 |publisher=Nascer do Sol|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} in March 2021, it was reported that he had declined to be the party candidate for mayor of Torres Vedras.{{cite web|title=Nove combates autárquicos. Santana recusou liderar lista do PSD em Torres Vedras|url=https://www.dn.pt/edicao-do-dia/15-mar-2021/nove-combates-autarquicos-santana-na-calha-para-liderar-lista-do-psd-em-torres-vedras-13456809.html|website=dn.pt|date=15 March 2021 |publisher=Diário de Notícias|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} His return to the Social Democratic Party was ruled out when it became known, in late March 2021, that he was seeking to create a citizen's group in order to run for mayor of Figueira da Foz, a position he held between 1998 and 2001.{{cite web|title=Autárquicas: Pedro Santana Lopes avança para a Figueira da Foz|url=https://www.jornalterrasdesico.pt/2021/03/autarquicas-pedro-santana-lopes-avanca-para-a-figueira-da-foz/|website=jornalterrasdesico.pt|date=21 March 2021 |publisher=Terras de Sicó|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} His candidacy, leading a list called Figueira The First ({{langx|pt|Figueira a Primeira}}), was confirmed in May{{cite web|title=Santana Lopes é candidato à Câmara Municipal da Figueira da Foz|url=http://www.fozaominuto.com/2021/05/santana-lopes-e-candidato-camara.html|website=fozaominuto.com|publisher=Foz ao Minuto|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} and generated significant interest, with opinion polls giving him real chances of winning. The candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Pedro Machado, launched on 10 August a legal action to invalidate Santana's candidacy due to alleged irregularities in its submission,{{cite web|title=PSD impugna em tribunal candidatura de Santana Lopes à Figueira da Foz|url=https://www.dn.pt/politica/psd-impugna-em-tribunal-candidatura-de-santana-a-figueira-da-foz-14022757.html|website=dn.pt|date=10 August 2021 |publisher=Diário de Notícias|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}}{{cite web|title=PSD pede impugnação da candidatura de Pedro Santana Lopes à Câmara da Figueira da Foz|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/psd-pede-impugnacao-da-candidatura-de-pedro-santana-lopes-a-camara-da-figueira-da-foz_v1341380|website=rtp.pt|date=10 August 2021 |publisher=RTP|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}} which was rejected by the local court three days later.{{cite web|title=Tribunal rejeita argumentos do PSD para impugnar candidatura de Santana Lopes|url=https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/politica/tribunal-da-razao-ao-psd-santana-lopes-tem-de-mudar-nome-da-candidatura-a-figueira-da-foz-14031623.html|website=tsf.pt|date=13 August 2021 |publisher=TSF|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}}{{cite web|title=Tribunal recusa impugnar candidatura de Santana Lopes na Figueira da Foz|url=https://www.jn.pt/local/noticias/coimbra/figueira-da-foz/tribunal-recusa-impugnar-candidatura-de-santana-lopes-na-figueira-da-foz-14031980.html|website=jn.pt|publisher=Jornal de Notícias|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}}

Figueira a Primeira would effectively become the winner, obtaining 40,39% and four councillors, against 38,39% for the Socialist Party, also with four councillors. The Social Democratic Party scored 10,83%, electing only one councillor. Under Portuguese law, the top candidate of the most voted list automatically becomes the mayor, but Santana will have to negotiate with other political groups in order to implement his agenda, since he didn't won a majority. He nevertheless considered the result "an extraordinary accomplishment".{{cite web|title=Pedro Santana Lopes reage a "vitória extraordinária" na Figueira da Foz|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/pedro-santana-lopes-reage-a-vitoria-extraordinaria-na-figueira-da-foz_a1351395|website=rtp.pt|date=26 September 2021 |publisher=RTP|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}}{{cite web|title="Proeza sem igual". Santana Lopes canta vitória na Figueira da Foz|url=https://www.jn.pt/nacional/proeza-sem-igual-santana-lopes-canta-vitoria-na-figueira-da-foz-14162212.html|website=jn.pt|publisher=Jornal de Notícias|access-date=3 October 2021|language=pt}}

Santana Lopes took office as mayor of Figueira da Foz on 17 October 2021. On his inauguration speech, he announced to have reached a deal with the University of Coimbra to build a campus on Figueira da Foz, dedicated to marine economy and sciences.{{cite web|title=Santana Lopes anuncia polo da Universidade de Coimbra para breve|url=https://www.asbeiras.pt/2021/10/santana-lopes-anuncia-polo-da-universidade-de-coimbra-para-breve|website=asbeiras.pt|publisher=Diário As Beiras|access-date=24 October 2023|language=pt}} The campus opened on 20 December 2022.{{cite web|title=Campus universitário da Figueira da Foz abre com curso sobre turismo costeiro|url=https://www.asbeiras.pt/2023/02/campus-universitario-da-figueira-da-foz-abre-com-curso-sobre-turismo-costeiro|website=asbeiras.pt|publisher=Diário As Beiras|access-date=24 October 2023|language=pt}}

On 20 April 2023, and without explicitly assuming a candidacy, Santana Lopes entertained the possibility of being a candidate for President of Portugal on the next election, saying that he saw no one better qualified than himself.{{cite web|title=Santana candidato à Presidência? "Não vejo ninguém com melhor currículo do que eu"|url=https://www.publico.pt/2023/04/20/politica/noticia/santana-candidato-presidencia-nao-vejo-ninguem-melhor-curriculo-2046777|website=publico.pt|date=20 April 2023 |publisher=Público|access-date=24 October 2023|language=pt}} However, he placed himself definitely out of the race on 19 October 2023, few days after the outbreak of the Gaza war, citing the current state of world affairs as the main reason.{{cite web|title=Santana afasta-se da corrida a Belém: "Nunca disse que era candidato"|url=https://www.dn.pt/politica/santana-afasta-se-da-corrida-a-belem-nunca-disse-que-era-candidato-17192732.html|website=dn.pt|date=18 October 2023 |publisher=Diário de Notícias|access-date=24 October 2023|language=pt}}

On 21 January 2024, Pedro Santana Lopes attended a convention of the Democratic Alliance, a coalition led by the Social Democratic Party in order to contest the 2024 legislative election. He made a speech praising Luís Montenegro, who reportedly felt moved while listening it.{{cite web|title=Santana Lopes junta-se de surpresa à convenção da AD|url=https://www.jn.pt/4014929650/santana-lopes-junta-se-de-surpresa-a-convencao-da-ad|website=jn.pt|publisher=Jornal de Notícias|access-date=23 January 2023|language=pt}}{{cite web|title=Luís Montenegro emociona-se com discurso de Santana Lopes durante convenção da AD|url=https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2024-01-22-Luis-Montenegro-emociona-se-com-discurso-de-Santana-Lopes-durante-convencao-da-AD-70333cb0|website=sicnoticias.pt|publisher=SIC Notícias|access-date=23 January 2023|language=pt}} Since Santana formally remains an independent, his presence in the event again fuels speculation about his possible return to his former party.

Outside politics

After resigning as Secretary of State for Culture, Santana Lopes successfully ran for president of Sporting CP.{{cite web |url=http://www.sporting.pt/English/Club/club_presidents.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717124636/http://www.sporting.pt/English/Club/club_presidents.asp |archive-date=17 July 2009 |title=Sporting Clube de Portugal}} Despite being in office for less than a year, the club won the 1994–1995 Taça de Portugal in football under his leadership.

Electoral history

=European Parliament election, 1987=

! colspan="2" | Party

! Candidate

! Votes

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Seats

| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"|PSD

| align=left |Pedro Santana Lopes || 2,111,828 || 37.5 || 10

| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"|PS

| align=left |Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo || 1,267,672 || 22.5 || 6

| style="background:{{party color|CDS – People's Party}};"|

| align="left"| CDS

| align=left |Lucas Pires || 868,718 || 15.4 || 4

| style="background:{{party color|Unitary Democratic Coalition}};"|

| align="left"| CDU

| align=left |Ângelo Veloso || 648,700 || 11.5 || 3

| style="background:green;"|

| align="left"| PRD

| align=left |Medeiros Ferreira || 250,158 || 4.4 || 1

| style="background:{{party color|People's Monarchist Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"| PPM

| align=left |Miguel Esteves Cardoso || 155,990 || 2.8 || 0

| style="background:white;"|

| colspan="2" align="left"| Other parties

| 193,869 || 3.4 || 0

| colspan="3" align="left"| Blank/Invalid ballots

| 142,715 || 2.5 || –

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

| colspan="3" align="left"| Turnout

| 5,639,650 || 72.42 || 24

| colspan="7" align=left|Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições{{cite web |url=https://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/resultados_pe_1987.pdf |title=Mapa Oficial |work=Diário da República |access-date=5 August 2024}}

=PSD leadership election, 1995=

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%

|bgcolor=orange|

| align=left | Fernando Nogueira

| align=right | 532

| align=right | 51.6

|bgcolor=orange|

| align=left | José Manuel Durão Barroso

| align=right | 499

| align=right | 48.4

|bgcolor=orange|

| align=left | Pedro Santana Lopes

| colspan="2" align=center| withdrew

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

| colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Turnout

| align=right | 1,031

| align=center |

| colspan="4" align=left|Source: Resultados[https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/xvii-congresso-do-psd/ "XVII Congresso do PSD"], RTP, 19 February 1995. Retrieved 6 June 2022.[https://www.publico.pt/2012/03/23/jornal/os-congressos-quentes-do-psd-no-poder-24238345 "Os congressos quentes do PSD no poder "], Público, 23 March 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2022.

=Figueira da Foz City Council election, 1997=

! colspan="2" | Party

! Candidate

! align="center" style="width: 50px"| Votes

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Seats

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|+/−

| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"|PSD

| align=left |Pedro Santana Lopes || 22,133 || 59.9 || 6 || style="color:green;"| +2

| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"|PS

| align=left | Carlos Beja || 11,227 || 30.5 || 3 || style="color:red;"| –2

| style="background:{{party color|Unitary Democratic Coalition}};"|

| align="left"| CDU

| align=left |– || 1,580 || 4.3 || 0 || ±0

| style="background:{{party color|CDS – People's Party}};"|

| align="left"| CDS–PP

| align=left |– || 523 || 1.4 || 0 || ±0

| style="background:{{party color|Communist Party of the Portuguese Workers / Reorganizative Movement of the Party of the Proletariat}};"|

| align="left"| PCTP/MRPP

| align=left |– || 204 || 0.6 || 0 || ±0

| colspan="3" align="left"| Blank/Invalid ballots

| 1,248 || 3.4 || – || –

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

| colspan="3" align="left"| Turnout

| 36,965 || 65.45 || 9 || ±0

| colspan="7" align=left|Source: Autárquicas 1997{{cite web |url=https://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/resultados_al_1997_0.pdf |title=Diário da República Mapa Oficial |work=Comissão Nacional de Eleições |date=2 March 1998|access-date=4 August 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/autarquicas-1997-campanha-na-figueira-da-foz/ |title=Autárquicas 1997: Campanha na Figueira da Foz |work=RTP |date=3 December 1997|access-date=4 August 2024}}

=PSD leadership election, 2000=

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%

|bgcolor=orange|

| align=left | José Manuel Durão Barroso

| align=right | 469

| align=right | 50.3

|bgcolor=orange|

| align=left | Pedro Santana Lopes

| align=right | 313

| align=right | 33.6

|bgcolor=orange|

| align=left | Luís Marques Mendes

| align=right | 150

| align=right | 16.1

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

| colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Turnout

| align=right | 932

| align=center |

| colspan="4" align=left|Source: Congresso PSD{{cite web |url=https://www.publico.pt/2000/02/28/jornal/um-partido-tripartido-140580 |title=Um Partido Tripartido |work=Público |date=28 February 2000|access-date=5 August 2024}}

=Lisbon City Council election, 2001=

! colspan="2" | Party

! Candidate

! align="center" style="width: 50px"| Votes

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Seats

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|+/−

| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"|PSD/PPM

| align=left |Pedro Santana Lopes || 131,094 || 42.1 || 8 || style="color:green;"| +1

| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"|PS/CDU

| align=left | João Soares || 129,368 || 41.5 || 8 || style="color:red;"| –2

| style="background:{{party color|CDS – People's Party}};"|

| align="left"| CDS–PP

| align=left |Paulo Portas || 23,637 || 7.6 || 1 || ±0

| style="background:{{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"| BE

| align=left |Miguel Portas || 11,899 || 3.8 || 0 || new

| style="background:white;"|

| colspan="2" align="left"| Other parties

| 5,766 || 1.9 || 0 || ±0

| colspan="3" align="left"| Blank/Invalid ballots

| 9,718 || 3.1 || – || –

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

| colspan="3" align="left"| Turnout

| 311,482 || 54.83 || 17 || ±0

| colspan="7" align=left|Source: Autárquicas 2001{{cite web |url=https://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/resultados_al_2001.pdf |title=Diário da República Mapa Oficial |work=Comissão Nacional de Eleições |date=27 March 2002|access-date=4 August 2024}}

=PSD leadership election, 2004=

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%

|bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}|

| align=left | Pedro Santana Lopes

| align=right | 98

| align=right | 97.0

| colspan=2 align=left | Against

| align=right | 3

| align=right | 3.0

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

| colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Turnout

| align=right | 101

| align=center |

| colspan="4" align=left|Source: Resultados{{cite web |url=https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/empresas/media/tdt/detalhe/santana_lopes_eleito_presidente_do_psd_promete_continuar_projecto_do_governo |title=Santana Lopes eleito Presidente do PSD promete continuar projecto de governo |work=Jornal de Negócios |date=2 July 2004|access-date=4 August 2024}}

=Legislative election, 2005=

! colspan="2" | Party

! Candidate

! Votes

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Seats

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|+/−

| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"|PS

| align=left |José Sócrates || 2,588,312 || 45.0 || 121 || style="color:green;"| +25

| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"|PSD

| align=left |Pedro Santana Lopes || 1,653,425 || 28.8 || 75 || style="color:red;"| –30

| style="background:{{party color|Unitary Democratic Coalition}};"|

| align="left"| CDU

| align=left |Jerónimo de Sousa || 433,369 || 7.5 || 14 || style="color:green;"| +2

| style="background:{{party color|CDS – People's Party}};"|

| align="left"| CDS–PP

| align=left |Paulo Portas || 416,415 || 7.3 || 12 || style="color:red;"| –2

| style="background:{{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"| BE

| align=left |Francisco Louçã || 364,971 || 6.4 || 8 || style="color:green;"| +5

| style="background:white;"|

| colspan="2" align="left"| Other parties

| 122,127 || 2.1 || 0 || ±0

| colspan="3" align="left"| Blank/Invalid ballots

| 169,052 || 2.9 || – || –

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

| colspan="3" align="left"| Turnout

| 5,747,834 || 64.26 || 230 || ±0

| colspan="7" align=left|Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições{{cite web |url=https://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/resultados_ar_2005_rectificacao.pdf |title=Resultados AR 2005 Rectificação |work=Comissão Nacional de Eleições |access-date=5 August 2024}}

=PSD leadership election, 2008=

{{main|2008 Portuguese Social Democratic Party leadership election}}

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%

|bgcolor=orange|

| align=left | Manuela Ferreira Leite

| align=right | 17,278

| align=right | 37.9

|bgcolor=orange|

| align=left | Pedro Passos Coelho

| align=right | 14,160

| align=right | 31.1

|bgcolor=orange|

| align=left | Pedro Santana Lopes

| align=right | 13,495

| align=right | 29.6

|bgcolor=orange|

| align=left | Patinha Antão

| align=right | 308

| align=right | 0.7

| colspan=2 align=left | Blank/Invalid ballots

| align=right | 351

| align=right | 0.8

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

| colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Turnout

| align=right| 45,592

| align=right | 59.13

| colspan="4" align=left|Source: Resultados{{citation | title = Congressos e Eleições Diretas PPD/PSD | url= https://www.psd.pt/pt/congressos-e-eleicoes-diretas| publisher = Social Democratic Party | access-date = 10 October 2022}}

=Lisbon City Council election, 2009=

! colspan="2" | Party

! Candidate

! align="center" style="width: 50px"| Votes

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Seats

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|+/−

| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"|PS

| align=left |António Costa || 123,372 || 44.0 || 9 || style="color:green;"| +3

| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Alliance (Portugal, 2024)}};"|

| align="left"|PSD/CDS–PP/MPT/PPM

| align=left |Pedro Santana Lopes || 108,457 || 38.7 || 7 || style="color:green;"| +4

| style="background:{{party color|Unitary Democratic Coalition}};"|

| align="left"| CDU

| align=left |Ruben de Carvalho || 22,623 || 8.1 || 1 || style="color:red;"| –1

| style="background:{{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"| BE

| align=left |Luís Fazenda || 12,795 || 4.6 || 0 || style="color:red;"| –1

| style="background:white;"|

| colspan="2" align="left"| Other parties

| 5,911 || 2.1 || 0 || ±0

| colspan="3" align="left"| Blank/Invalid ballots

| 7,152 || 2.5 || – || –

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

| colspan="3" align="left"| Turnout

| 280,310 || 53.43 || 17 || ±0

| colspan="7" align=left|Source: Autárquicas 2009{{cite web |url=https://www.eleicoes.mai.gov.pt/autarquicas2009/#%00 |title=Autárquicas 2009 |work=SGMAI |access-date=5 August 2024}}

=PSD leadership election, 2018=

{{main|2018 Portuguese Social Democratic Party leadership election}}

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%

|bgcolor=orange|

| align=left | Rui Rio

| align=right | 22,728

| align=right | 54.2

|bgcolor=orange|

| align=left | Pedro Santana Lopes

| align=right | 19,244

| align=right | 45.8

| colspan=2 align=left | Blank/Invalid ballots

| align=right | 683

| align=right | –

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

| colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Turnout

| align=right | 42,655

| align=right | 60.34

| colspan="4" align=left|Source: Resultados{{cite web |url=https://www.psd.pt/pt/congressos-e-eleicoes-diretas |title=PSD Congressos e eleições directas |work=PSD |access-date=5 August 2024}}

=Legislative election, 2019=

! colspan="2" | Party

! Candidate

! Votes

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Seats

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|+/−

| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"|PS

| align=left |António Costa || 1,903,687 || 36.3 || 108 || style="color:green;"| +22

| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"|PSD

| align=left |Rui Rio || 1,454,283 || 27.8 || 79 || style="color:red;"| –10

| style="background:{{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"| BE

| align=left |Catarina Martins || 498,549 || 9.5 || 19 || ±0

| style="background:{{party color|Unitary Democratic Coalition}};"|

| align="left"| CDU

| align=left |Jerónimo de Sousa || 332,018 || 6.3 || 12 || style="color:red;"| –5

| style="background:{{party color|CDS – People's Party}};"|

| align="left"| CDS–PP

| align=left |Assunção Cristas || 221,094 || 4.2 || 5 || style="color:red;"| –13

| style="background:teal;"|

| align="left"| PAN

| align=left |André Silva || 173,931 || 3.3 || 4 || style="color:green;"| +3

| style="background:#202056;"|

| align="left"| Chega

| align=left |André Ventura || 67,502 || 1.3 || 1 || new

| style="background:{{party color|Liberal Initiative}};"|

| align="left"| IL

| align=left |Carlos Guimarães Pinto || 67,443 || 1.3 || 1 || new

| style="background:{{party color|LIVRE}};"|

| align="left"| Livre

| align=left |Collective leadership || 56,940 || 1.1 || 1 || style="color:green;"| +1

| style="background:#6AD1E3;"|

| align="left"| Alliance

| align=left |Pedro Santana Lopes || 40,175 || 0.8 || 0 || new

| style="background:white;"|

| colspan="2" align="left"| Other parties

| 166,987 || 3.2 || 0 || ±0

| colspan="3" align="left"| Blank/Invalid ballots

| 254,875 || 4.9 || – || –

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

| colspan="3" align="left"| Turnout

| 5,237,484 || 48.60 || 230 || ±0

| colspan="7" align=left|Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições{{cite web |url=http://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/2019ar_mapa_oficial_resultados.pdf |title=Mapa Oficial Resultados Legislativas 2019 |work=CNE |access-date=5 August 2024}}

=Figueira da Foz City Council election, 2021=

! colspan="2" | Party

! Candidate

! align="center" style="width: 50px"| Votes

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Seats

! align="center" style="width: 50px"|+/−

| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}};"|

| align="left"|Ind.

| align=left |Pedro Santana Lopes || 12,528 || 40.4 || 4 || new

| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"|PS

| align=left | Carlos Monteiro || 11,909 || 38.4 || 4 || style="color:red;"| –2

| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"|PSD

| align=left |Pedro Machado || 3,358 || 10.8 || 1 || style="color:red;"| –2

| style="background:{{party color|Unitary Democratic Coalition}};"|

| align="left"| CDU

| align=left |Bernardo dos Reis || 831 || 2.7 || 0 || ±0

| style="background:{{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}};"|

| align="left"| BE

| align=left |Rui Miguel da Silva || 637 || 2.1 || 0 || ±0

| style="background:{{party color|CDS – People's Party}};"|

| align="left"| CDS–PP

| align=left |Miguel Chaves || 361 || 1.2 || 0 || ±0

| colspan="3" align="left"| Blank/Invalid ballots

| 1,395 || 4.5 || – || –

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"

| colspan="3" align="left"| Turnout

| 31,019 || 56.48 || 9 || ±0

| colspan="7" align=left|Source: Autárquicas 2021{{cite web |url=https://www.marktest.com/wap/a/p/conc~60500/id~d0.aspx |title=Histórico de resultados Eleitorais |work=Marktest |access-date=5 August 2024}}

Honours

=National=

55px Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (19 January 2010)

=Foreign=

{{flag|Austria}}: Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (11 November 2004)
{{flag|Brazil}}: Grand Cross of the National Order of the Southern Cross (28 August 1991 and 31 December 2003){{cite web|title=Cidadãos Nacionais Agraciados com Ordens Portuguesas|url=http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=153|website=Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas|access-date=28 January 2017}}
{{flag|Hungary}}: Grand Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit (27 October 2002)
{{flag|Morocco}}: Grand Cordon of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite (20 February 1995)

Bibliography

Co-author with José Manuel Durão Barroso: Sistema de Governo e Sistema Partidário, Livraria Bertrand, 1980
Portugal e a Europa: Que Futuro?, 1989
Os Sistemas de Governos Mistos e o actual Sistema Português, Difel Editorial, 2001
'Figueira, a Minha História, 2005
Palavras Escritas, Elo, 2005
Percepções e Realidade, Alêtheia Editores, 2006
A Cidade é de todos, Livros d'Hoje, 2009
Pecado Original, D. Quixote, 2013