Sócrates obtained a landslide victory (winning 77% of the votes) in early October 2004 for the succession of Ferro Rodrigues as Secretary-General of the party. Other candidates for the post were Manuel Alegre and João Soares in a vote by party members. PS is a member of the Socialist International and the Party of European Socialists , and has seven members in the European Parliament within the Socialists & Democrats (S&D) Group during the seventh parliament.