Cotrim de Figueiredo sent a letter to the prime minister expressing his willingness to be a partner for reforms. He reiterated that intention at his first campaign dinner with supporters in Gaia. The candidate backed by Iniciativa Liberal is buoyed by the daily polls and warns that voting for Ventura would be to elect Seguro.
"I want to be the president of hope". Cotrim de Figueiredo winks at government-supporting voters and discourages voting for Ventura
Friday, 9 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.
