It is the first time that the MEP and candidate backed by the Liberal Initiative has reached the hypothetical second round, with André Ventura falling from first to third.
Seguro returns to the lead, Cotrim moves into second
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.
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Other news coverage of this topic
- Tracking poll 'made Cotrim de Figueiredo realise there is a lack of conviction on Marques Mendes's campaign, which he could exploit'3:00am, 11 Jan 2026 • CNN Portugal
- Tracking poll, day 6: Seguro returns to first place, Ventura is overtaken and drops to third3:00am, 11 Jan 2026 • CNN Portugal
- Tracking poll, day 6: Seguro again in front, Cotrim rises to second, Ventura on the podium3:00am, 11 Jan 2026 • CNN Portugal
- Mendes: 'I will go through to the second round in first place'1:45am, 11 Jan 2026 • Observador
- Ventura wants to know which side Montenegro will take in the second round of the presidential election1:30am, 11 Jan 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Admiral 'weary of cynicism'1:30am, 11 Jan 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Marques Mendes raises the bar: 'I will come first'1:19am, 11 Jan 2026 • Observador
- On the ninth day of the official campaign, Marques Mendes raises the bar: "I will advance to the second round in first place"1:19am, 11 Jan 2026 • RTP Notícias
- Politics, Deconstructed12:30am, 11 Jan 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- The trivialisation of tragedy12:30am, 11 Jan 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- A Little Fondness for Surprise12:05am, 11 Jan 2026 • Público
- Ventura, the Government/Chega alliance and the second round8:50pm, 10 Jan 2026 • Público
- Cotrim de Figueiredo accuses rivals of 'lack of greatness'8:38pm, 10 Jan 2026 • RTP Notícias
- "Alguns comportamentos de Cotrim caem no ridículo": Marques Mendes deixa críticas a adversário à direita6:18pm, 10 Jan 2026 • Correio da Manhã
