Hugo Alexandre Lopes Soares (born 2 March 1983 in Braga, Portugal) is a Portuguese lawyer and politician affiliated with the Social Democratic Party (PSD). He is a prominent figure in Portuguese politics, currently serving as Secretary-General of the PSD and President of the party's Parliamentary Group in the Assembly of the Republic.
Early life and education
Soares was born in Braga, Portugal, on 2 March 1983. He studied law at the University of Coimbra, where he earned his degree, and subsequently worked as a lawyer and company administrator. Some sources also list the University of Minho as his alma mater.
Political career
Soares began his political trajectory within the youth wing of the PSD. He served as President of the Social Democratic Youth (Juventude Social Democrata) from 16 December 2012 to 14 December 2014.
He was first elected as a Member of the Assembly of the Republic for the Braga constituency in 2011, serving from 21 June 2011 to 24 October 2019. He returned to parliament in the 2024 legislative elections, again representing Braga.
Soares has held several leadership positions within the PSD:
- President of the Parliamentary Group of the PSD (first term): 19 July 2017 to 22 February 2018
- Secretary-General of the PSD: since 3 July 2022, under party president Luís Montenegro
- President of the Parliamentary Group of the PSD (second term): since 9 April 2024
Role in contemporary Portuguese politics
Since the 2024 general elections, Soares has been a central figure in the PSD's parliamentary strategy, serving as the party's parliamentary leader during the government led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. He has been described in Portuguese media as a key political operative responsible for the party's parliamentary combat against the opposition. He has also been noted for his public confrontations with political opponents and his role in defending government positions on issues such as labor law reforms.
Personal life
Soares is married to Patrícia Nair Lopes Mendes and has two children.
