The information was released by the Público newspaper and confirmed by the party, led by Rui Tavares and Isabel Mendes Lopes.
In a motion approved unanimously on Sunday, Livre’s Assembly – the highest body between congresses – decided to schedule a “debate on the presidential elections to take place in a meeting to be convened by the end of October.”
This motion indicates that the decision might also involve an internal consultation among Livre’s members and supporters.
“The urgency for scheduling this meeting arises from the fact that any resulting action will need time to be processed, and given the election timetable, it is essential for the party to reach a final decision by early December,” the motion states.
The members of Livre’s Assembly highlight that “everything indicates” these will be the most contested presidential elections “since 1986,” and that Livre, “with its legacy of strengthening progressive candidacies, stands as the largest left-wing party in Portuguese parliamentary representation.”
“In these significant elections, it is crucial for Livre to make its position known,” the decision reads.
Consequently, Livre is not expected to support any of the already announced left-wing candidacies, such as António José Seguro, former PS secretary-general backed by the Socialists, Catarina Martins, former leader of BE, or António Filipe, former deputy of the PCP.
The presidential elections are scheduled for January 2026.
