During an interview ahead of the IL’s X National Convention on July 19 in Alcobaça, Mariana Leitão expressed the party’s intent to grow in the municipal elections on October 12, though she refrained from setting a specific electoral target.
When asked if winning a municipal presidency seems feasible, Mariana Leitão responded, “At this stage, I find becoming a mayor very difficult.”
“One thing is certain: we will succeed in electing representatives. We plan to run for more municipalities, more municipal assemblies, and more parish assemblies than four years ago. Therefore, compared to four years ago, our result should be considerably better,” she stated.
The sole candidate for IL leadership noted that the party would participate in some municipal coalitions, such as in Porto, aiming for representation in municipal governments.
Regarding presidential elections, Mariana Leitão stated the party aims to support someone who embodies “liberal ideals,” indicating that the candidate does not necessarily have to be an IL member.
“I don’t think it’s mandatory for the candidate to be a member or not of the party. What matters is that the person possesses these characteristics, understands the responsibility of the role, and knows when to speak,” she said, leaving the decision until after the convention.
When questioned about supporting any currently announced presidential candidates, Mariana Leitão reiterated that IL’s primary goal is to find a representative of liberal values.
“None of the candidates presented so far fulfill this or represent this space, so they will be excluded from the start,” she commented.
In analyzing the party’s performance in the last legislative elections, where IL only gained one additional deputy compared to 2024, resulting in the resignation of former leader Rui Rocha, Mariana Leitão attributed the outcome partly to “external phenomena,” particularly “events that occurred during the campaign,” and a significant focus on Spinumviva.
Internally, Mariana Leitão speculated that the party might not have effectively communicated its message, which is sometimes “technically complex” and insists on reforms and change, causing “some apprehension” that “needs demystifying.”
For her leadership priorities, Mariana Leitão affirmed her commitment to maintaining the party’s main platforms, such as tax simplification, state reform, and health plans, while also “embracing other areas.”
Among these areas, Leitão highlighted labor legislation, emphasizing IL’s desire to “make the labor market more flexible,” as it currently is “rigid,” leading most companies to prefer hiring under more precarious conditions.
Another area IL intends to address is amendments to strike laws. Mariana Leitão stressed that the party does not question the constitutionally guaranteed right to strike but aims to ensure that people are not “constantly disadvantaged by strikes.”
“There must be a rationale for guaranteed minimum services that allow people, for example, to reach their workplaces during a public transport strike,” she said, deeming it unfair that “due to the demands of a group of workers, everyone else is affected.”
