The allegations of harassment had been known within IL for two years. In the morning, Cotrim already knew the story would resurface when he gave his response about Ventura and the second round. After that, it only got worse.
The dark day when Cotrim lost his 'momentum'
Tuesday, 13 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
André Ventura, born January 15, 1983, is a lawyer, academic, and Portugal's most prominent far-right leader. He founded Chega ("Enough") in 2019 after his PSD mayoral campaign attacked the Romani community. Chega surged from 1.3% in 2019 to 22.8% in May 2025, becoming parliament's second-largest party and making Ventura Leader of the Opposition.
His platform emphasizes immigration restrictions, law-and-order policies, constitutional reform, and contains inflammatory anti-Romani rhetoric that has triggered multiple discrimination convictions and investigations. Politically classified as far-right by international media, Ventura cultivates alliances with European far-right figures including Marine Le Pen and Santiago Abascal.
He announced his 2026 presidential candidacy, polling at 18% alongside independent Admiral Gouveia e Melo. His rise ended Portugal's 50-year resistance to far-right parties.
- 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 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
- The harassment allegation and second-round scenarios: the day that shook Cotrim's campaign8:39pm, 12 Jan 2026 • RTP Notícias
