The parliamentary leader of IL, Mariana Leitão, is set to be the sole candidate in the party’s internal elections for the presidency, scheduled for July 19, proposing a leadership that includes former supporters of ex-deputy Carla Castro.
The deadline for submitting applications to IL’s Executive Committee, the party’s leadership, concluded at midnight on Friday. However, the party’s press office only revealed the number of candidacies on Sunday night, citing the intention to inform party members before the media.
The party announces that Mariana Leitão was the only individual to step forward with candidacy for the IL leadership in the internal elections to be held at the party’s 10th National Convention on July 19 in Alcobaça.
In the list proposed by Mariana Leitão for the party’s leadership, which was likewise disclosed on Sunday, Rui Rocha, who resigned from leadership on May 31, leaves the Executive Committee. Deputy Mário Amorim Lopes, previously a member, is elevated to vice-president.
André Abrantes Amaral, who led the IL list in Leiria during the last legislative elections and was so far a member, is also nominated for vice-president, along with Paulo Trezentos, who was part of the party’s Oversight Council.
Among the current vice-presidents, Ricardo Pais Oliveira remains, with deputy Angélique da Teresa exiting the Executive Committee and Rui Ribeiro replacing deputy Miguel Rangel as secretary-general.
In the list for the Executive Committee presented for elections, Mariana Leitão includes former supporters of ex-deputy Carla Castro, who contested the IL leadership with Rui Rocha at the February 2023 convention, losing with 44% and subsequently leaving the party.
Mariana Leitão now proposes that João Cascão, who Carla Castro intended as secretary-general in her election list, becomes a member of the Executive Committee. Additionally, Eunice Baeta, who, according to IL, “supported Carla Castro and then aligned with the Unidos pelo Liberalismo movement,” led by Tiago Mayan Gonçalves and Rui Malheiro, is also nominated.
In a brief note released with the list proposed for IL’s Executive Committee, Mariana Leitão states she has assembled “a renewed and very competent team, with individuals representing various tendencies and sensitivities within the party, geographically, ideologically, and politically.”
“Not everyone was on the same side in past political battles within IL, but today they unite to build the Liberal Initiative that Portugal so needs,” the statement reads.
IL will elect its new leader and direction at the 10th National Convention in Alcobaça on July 19, following Rui Rocha, who served as party president from 2023 to 2025, resigning on May 31, citing unsatisfactory legislative election results.
In those legislative elections, IL achieved 5.36% and secured nine deputies, one more than in the 2024 elections.
Less than a week after Rui Rocha’s resignation, Mariana Leitão announced her candidacy for party leadership in a social media post expressing a “desire to rally a movement that inspires change in the country.”
“Unafraid to be liberal, with the courage to raise our liberal flags without hesitation, fully asserting liberal values,” read Mariana Leitão’s message.
Following this announcement, potential leadership contenders, such as deputy Mário Amorim Lopes or Bernardo Blanco, declared they would not enter the race, with Amorim Lopes expressing support for Mariana Leitão. The internal opposition faction to Rui Rocha also refrained from presenting an alternative candidate.
