Between 'sympathy' and exchanges of barbs, João Cotrim de Figueiredo and Jorge Pinto crossed paths at Praça da Fruta. While the liberal seeks the vote of those who 'want to do something' for the country, the candidate supported by Livre reached out to voters on the left, PAN and even to those on the right who recognise the 'danger to democracy'.
'Are you going all the way?': Cotrim and Jorge Pinto cross paths in Oeste with 'sympathy', exchanges of 'ideas' and appeals for votes
Saturday, 10 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
The West region (Oeste) is the coastal agricultural area north of Lisbon that supplies large quantities of fruits, vegetables and other agri-food products to national supermarkets. Heavy damage to farms and packing operations there can reduce local supply and push prices up in the weeks or months after severe weather, so buyers and food businesses often watch developments in this region.
- 2026 Presidential Candidate
- Party: Liberal Initiative (IL) Iniciativa Liberal
- Businessman from Lisbon
- Economic Liberalism, reduced state intervention, pro-Europe
João Fernando Cotrim de Figueiredo (born June 24, 1961, in Lisbon) is a businessman and liberal politician running for Portugal's presidency in the January 18, 2026 election. He grew up in Lisbon, studied Economics at the London School of Economics and earned an MBA from NOVA University Lisbon. He held executive positions at Compal, Nutricafés, Privado Holding, and TVI, and served as president of Turismo de Portugal (2013-2016), overseeing tourism industry growth during his tenure. He was elected as the Liberal Initiative's first parliamentary deputy in October 2019, led the party (2019-2023) while it grew from 1 to 8 seats with 5% of votes in 2022, and was elected European Parliament member in 2024. He announced his presidential candidacy in August 2025, backed by the Liberal Initiative.
Political Philosophy:
Cotrim de Figueiredo champions liberal economics—tax reduction, labour market liberalization, and welfare reform—alongside cultural and secular liberalism. His campaign emphasizes "Culture, Knowledge and Growth," positioning himself as representing younger voters alienated by traditional candidates, and explicitly states he expects a "second-round" runoff result. He advocates for a future-prepared Portugal distinct from current political offerings.
