Cotrim confronts media as accusations rock campaign

A former parliamentary aide to Iniciativa Liberal said she reported alleged sexual harassment by João Cotrim de Figueiredo in 2023 and that an Instagram post about the allegation was shared without her consent; she says the veracity of the facts will be decided in court. The party (IL) denies receiving any internal complaint and Cotrim says he was unaware of accusations and will file a criminal complaint; coverage is split across outlets and includes direct statements from the parties involved. The story is unfolding during the presidential campaign and may influence voter perceptions and media attention in the coming days. Those following the election and campaign developments should watch for legal filings and party responses.

Update: In new coverage Cotrim publicly confronted journalists at a campaign event — saying “Do you have any idea what you have done to my life?” — and again denied prior knowledge of the alleged complaint; several outlets report he plans to lodge a criminal complaint over the dissemination of the story. Observers note continued disagreement between the former aide’s account and IL’s statement that no internal complaint was received, keeping legal action and party responses as the likely next steps.

Context & Explainers

2026 Presidential Candidate
Party: Liberal Initiative (IL) Iniciativa Liberal
Businessman from Lisbon
Economic Liberalism, reduced state intervention, pro-Europe

João Fernando Cotrim de Figueiredo (born June 24, 1961, in Lisbon) is a businessman and liberal politician running for Portugal's presidency in the January 18, 2026 election. He grew up in Lisbon, studied Economics at the London School of Economics and earned an MBA from NOVA University Lisbon. He held executive positions at Compal, Nutricafés, Privado Holding, and TVI, and served as president of Turismo de Portugal (2013-2016), overseeing tourism industry growth during his tenure. He was elected as the Liberal Initiative's first parliamentary deputy in October 2019, led the party (2019-2023) while it grew from 1 to 8 seats with 5% of votes in 2022, and was elected European Parliament member in 2024. He announced his presidential candidacy in August 2025, backed by the Liberal Initiative.

Political Philosophy:

Cotrim de Figueiredo champions liberal economics—tax reduction, labour market liberalization, and welfare reform—alongside cultural and secular liberalism. His campaign emphasizes "Culture, Knowledge and Growth," positioning himself as representing younger voters alienated by traditional candidates, and explicitly states he expects a "second-round" runoff result. He advocates for a future-prepared Portugal distinct from current political offerings.

What is the Liberal Initiative (IL) political party?

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.

Iniciativa Liberal and João Cotrim de Figueiredo tend to draw support from urban, economically liberal voters — often professionals, entrepreneurs and higher‑income residents in cities like Lisbon and Porto — who prioritise lower taxes, deregulation and individual freedoms. The party also attracts some younger voters and expatriates who favour pro‑market policies and a smaller state role.