By then he had been widely regarded for a long time as Cavaco's political heir, and won the party congress by 33 votes against Durão Barroso.

Fernando Nogueira became Leader of the Opposition, which in Portugal is an informal position which doesn't carry the same privileges and responsibilities as in other countries such as the United Kingdom.

In June 2015 his name briefly returned to media spotlight after the leader of the Social Democratic Party and then prime minister, Pedro Passos Coelho, said Nogueira was his preferred candidate for the 2016 presidential election.

[4] Shortly before the 2015 legislative election he briefly reappeared again, making a video which was exhibited in a campaign rally and in which he voiced support for Pedro Passos Coelho and the alliance Portugal Ahead.

[5] The alliance won a plurality in the election and was invited to form a new government, which ended toppled by a motion of no confidence supported by a left-wing coalition.