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Livre holds congress to elect new leadership

Saturday, 11 July 2026AI summary
📍 Sintra🏛️ Government#government-policy#election-campaign
Livre holds congress to elect new leadership
Photo: Observador

The political party Livre held its 17th congress in Sintra this weekend to elect a new spokesperson, with Jorge Pinto expected to succeed outgoing leader Rui Tavares. During the event, party members criticized the government's recent rental policies and debated the party's future strategy, including its stance on potential cooperation with the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS).

Update: Livre challenges PS to block constitutional revision

Livre spokesperson Isabel Mendes Lopes has challenged the PS to block a right-wing constitutional revision by threatening to vote against the next State Budget. During the congress, the party also emphasized its ambition to govern by 2029 and called for ecological reindustrialisation.

Context & Explainers

What is the LIVRE political party?
  • Leader: Rui Tavares
  • Ideology: Green left-wing politics, libertarian socialism

LIVRE (meaning "Free") is a green left-wing party founded in 2014 by historian and former MEP Rui Tavares. The party struggled for years before finally electing Tavares as its first MP in 2022, then grew to 4 seats in 2024 and 6 seats in 2025—making it the only progressive party to gain ground in recent elections. LIVRE focuses on environmental protection, human rights, and progressive social policies while maintaining a pro-European stance.

Health cards are private membership or discount schemes sold by companies that offer access to consultations, tests or reduced fees at private clinics; they are not the public health service. The Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) has proposed regulation to increase transparency and protect consumers from misleading marketing or unexpected charges.

Isabel Mendes Lopes is a spokesperson for the political party Livre. She is a member of the Portuguese Parliament (Assembleia da República) and represents the party in legislative debates and negotiations.

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