Fifty-two years ago, Portugal chose freedom. After nearly half a century of dictatorship, the country began to determine its own destiny. This achievement belongs to all Portuguese people, not to any specific political faction or self-appointed guardian of democracy. The text argues that the spirit of the 25th of April and the 25th of November, the Constitution, public funds, and the future itself should not be controlled by entrenched interests or an inefficient state. It calls for a model that serves citizens rather than the state, asserting that the Liberal Initiative will continue to march on the Avenida da Liberdade to advocate for a future that lives up to the promise of a free and evolving Portugal.
Portugal without owners
Tuesday, 21 April 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.
