"Populism and radicalism have come together." Marques Mendes asks for liberals' votes after Cotrim's setback
Marques Mendes appealed on Tuesday for tactical voting in next Sunday’s presidential election and said he was willing to attract voters from Iniciativa Liberal (IL), following statements made the day before by João Cotrim de Figueiredo, who did not rule out possible support for André Ventura in a second round. Questioned by journalists in Fátima about whether ...
Marques Mendes: "The risk to democracy exists at the moment when liberals and people from Chega associate"
“From the moment the Iniciativa Liberal candidacy, in a deeply regrettable contradiction, decided to associate with Chega, many people who are moderate were understandably disappointed,” says presidential candidate Luís Marques Mendes.
André Ventura says IL is a Left Bloc in disguise
The Chega candidate says he takes Cotrim's potential support in the second round “in his stride”.
"A vote for IL is a wasted vote," says Marques Mendes
The AD candidate says Cotrim de Figueiredo 'has conceded he will lose' after admitting he would back Ventura in the second round.
Iniciativa Liberal has already defended positions unacceptable for a right-wing conservative, such as the LGBT agenda
Pedro Frazão, of Chega, says that Cotrim de Figueiredo tried to 'wink' at André Ventura's electorate by saying he would not rule out supporting the candidate in a second round.
The harassment allegation and second-round scenarios: the day that shook Cotrim's campaign
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.
Cotrim insists he will reach the second round and says that if he doesn't he could support any candidate
The former leader of Iniciativa Liberal (IL) insisted that his “baseline scenario” is “obviously to reach the second round”.
Cotrim de Figueiredo, o "catalisador" com "queda" para a rua
Iniciativa Liberal’s presidential candidate, Cotrim de Figueiredo, is portrayed as a ‘catalyst’ — a figure who can accelerate political change without being consumed by it. PSD veteran José Miguel Júdice argues the candidate’s street‑level campaigning and outsider manner give him the potential to galvanise voters and disrupt the centre‑right landscape. The profile examines how that activist style and the backing from liberal and PSD circles could help him broaden appeal, while flagging the risks: limited governing experience, questions about coalition durability and whether street politics can translate into institutional influence.
"I want to be the president of hope". Cotrim de Figueiredo winks at government-supporting voters and discourages voting for Ventura
Cotrim de Figueiredo sent a letter to the prime minister expressing his willingness to be a partner for reforms. He reiterated that intention at his first campaign dinner with supporters in Gaia. The candidate backed by Iniciativa Liberal is buoyed by the daily polls and warns that voting for Ventura would be to elect Seguro.
Cotrim Figueiredo acknowledges that failing to reach the second round would be a defeat
The candidate supported by IL said he is increasingly confident he will make the second round and then win the election and take up residence at Belém Palace.
Cotrim tours 10 of the 18 districts of mainland Portugal
Starting in Lisbon and finishing in Braga, the candidate backed by Iniciativa Liberal will, over two weeks, hold two to three campaign events per day, including visits to fairs, markets, factories and gyms.
