ALDE Party member Iniciativa Liberal re-elected Rui Rocha as party leader at a party Congress on 1-2 February.
Rocha, who was elected in January 2023 to succeed current Renew Europe Vice-President João Cotrim de Figueiredo MEP, received 67.7% of members’ votes, defeating second-placed candidate Rui Malheiro.
Addressing the Congress, Rocha pledged to defend tax breaks, combat extremism on both the right and the left, and pursue reforms to improve security policy in Portugal.
He also vowed to stand by those fighting for freedom around the world, including in Tibet, Ukraine, Mozambique, Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba.
“I have absolute trust in the work we’ve done and in the vision we are presenting to the party and to the country,” said Rocha.
Meanwhile, Rocha took the opportunity to endorse current Member of Portuguese Parliament Mariana Leitão as Iniciativa Liberal’s candidate for the Portuguese Presidential elections in 2026.
“This is a candidacy of freedom against fear; it is a candidacy of optimism, hope, and ambition. That is what I want to represent. It is a Portugal that does not conform, a Portugal that sees itself in these principles of defending freedom, individual liberty, and conveying this desire for progress to the Portuguese people,” said Leitão.
Additionally, at Congress, current MP Bernardo Blanco’s candidacy secured a majority of strategic advisors in the party’s national council.