The Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal or IL) is calling for legislation to criminalize the sale of fake drugs following a shooting in downtown Lisbon. The incident, which involved a tourist hit by a stray bullet, has prompted political debate regarding the legal loopholes surrounding groups that target visitors with counterfeit substances.
Liberal Initiative seeks to criminalize fake drug sales
Thursday, 13 August 2026AI summary
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.
