In this article, the aim is to enhance our understanding of who has power over leaderselection in political parties. To this end, we apply an analytical framework in which theselection process is divided into three phases: gatekeeping, preparation and decision.The focus is on determining the extent to which each of these phases is influential for theoutcome and thereby locating the distribution of intra‐party power. Underpinning theanalysis is the conviction that the comparison of leader selection is too limited if it reliessolely on information about formal procedures, including the composition of theselectorate. We should also take the preselection phase of leader selection into account.Empirically, we examine a sample of recent selection processes in Europeanparliamentary democracies. In contrast to previous research on intra‐party politics,which has suggested an ascendancy of the party in public office, our results suggest anenduring strength of the party on the ground and the party in the central office.