João Cotrim de Figueiredo’s campaign, which had been gaining momentum, suffered a serious setback after a strategic misstep on second-round strategy and the resurfacing of a harassment allegation on social media. By not ruling out support for Ventura, Cotrim exposed himself to attacks and fractured the narrative of steady progress; the harassment allegation — reportedly known within Iniciativa Liberal for two years — compounded the damage and prompted him to decry ‘low‑level’ and ‘dirty’ politics. The episode shifted the campaign’s focus onto Cotrim personally, energised opponents and risked undoing recent gains as rivals consolidated backing ahead of a possible second round.
The harassment allegation and second-round scenarios: the day that shook Cotrim's campaign
Monday, 12 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
- The dark day when Cotrim lost his 'momentum'1:27am, 13 Jan 2026 • Observador
- The day Cotrim centred his campaign on himself, caught between a vote for Ventura and being targeted10:46pm, 12 Jan 2026 • Público
- Júdice defende Cotrim de acusação de assédio: "Um tipo inteligente e sofisticado tentava seduzir uma senhora a dizer aquelas coisas horrorosas?"10:33pm, 12 Jan 2026 • CNN Portugal
- Cotrim Figueiredo Gallery — 7th9:42pm, 12 Jan 2026 • Expresso
- A dark day for Cotrim that could kill the campaign's momentum9:22pm, 12 Jan 2026 • Expresso
- "Absolutely false": Cotrim de Figueiredo reacts to sexual harassment accusation8:44pm, 12 Jan 2026 • RTP Notícias
