In secondary school she even ran a newspaper. She earned a Law degree, completed several postgraduate qualifications and master's degrees, and has published books. She was an adviser for IL in Parliament and currently works in the office of Secretary of State Emídio Sousa.
From an outstanding academic career to the Secretary of State for Communities: who is Inês Bichão, the woman accusing Cotrim of sexual harassment?
Tuesday, 13 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.
