Luís Filipe Menezes Manuela Ferreira Leite The 2008 Portuguese Social Democratic Party leadership election was held on 31 May 2008.

This was a snap leadership election following the surprise resignation of then party leader Luís Filipe Menezes, elected just seven months before in September 2007, from the party's leadership.

[1] Menezes was facing heavy internal criticism for his leadership and opposition strategy but, nonetheless, his resignation surprised party members and structures.

[2] Four candidates entered in this snap race: Manuela Ferreira Leite, Pedro Passos Coelho, Pedro Santana Lopes and Mário Patinha Antão.

Manuela Ferreira Leite became the first woman to lead a major political party in Portuguese history.