The cold that descended on Lisbon did not deter João Cotrim de Figueiredo. The candidate backed by the Liberal Initiative had arranged a match with supporters — nearly 200 signed up — and so it went: Cotrim took to the pitch just after nine in the evening, introduced as the liberals' 'centre-forward' on the field and, more than that, the 'next President of the Republic' of Portugal.
Cotrim: 'Come tell me which campaign has a reformist spirit in this election? None!'
Tuesday, 6 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
- Leader: Mariana Leitão (since July 2025)
- Ideology: Classical liberalism, economic libertarianism
Founded in 2017, the Liberal Initiative advocates for reduced state intervention, tax simplification, labor market liberalization, and secular liberalism under the motto "Less State, More Freedom". The party gained its first parliamentary seat in 2019 and now holds 9 seats. Mariana Leitão, 42, became the party's first female leader in July 2025 after Rui Rocha resigned following disappointing 2025 election results. Leitão previously served as parliamentary leader and has been announced as the party's candidate for the 2026 presidential election. The party explicitly rejects alliances with both far-left and far-right parties, positioning itself as the "only alternative" that won't negotiate with extremes.
