Cotrim de Figueiredo and Jorge Pinto crossed paths during the campaign. The two candidates held a discussion about the positions of their campaigns. The former leader of the IL (Liberal Initiative) admitted that a candidacy by Passos Coelho would lead him to choose not to stand for Belém.
Cotrim admits a Passos Coelho candidacy would lead him not to stand for Belém
Saturday, 10 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.
Belém is the presidential palace (Palácio de Belém), the official residence and workplace of Portugal's president; it has served as the presidential seat since 1911 and sits in the Belém district of Lisbon near the Tagus River. The incoming president will be sworn in there on 9 March, and those in Lisbon may see public events or media coverage around the palace during the inauguration.
