RODRIGO ANTUNES/LUSA
The candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Initiative (IL), Rui Malheiro, during his candidacy presentation for the party elections, in Lisbon.
The national councilor was the only one to appear in the primaries of the internal opposition movement “United for Liberalism” and received 88% of the votes. He will face current leader Rui Rocha, who has already announced that he will run for re-election.
Rui Malheiro, from the “Unidos pelo Liberalismo” movement, launched his candidacy this Saturday for the leadership of the Liberal Initiative (IL), which he says represents the “courage” and “openness” that have been lacking in the current leadership of Rui Rocha.
“[Esta candidatura] represents the courage, openness, responsibility and action that have been lacking, not only to lead the Liberal Initiative, but to lead a movement that gives hope, trust and freedom back to the individual”, stated Rui Malheiro.
The candidate defended a party that “promotes debate, values diversity of opinions, encourages the inclusion of all and listens to civil society”. When questioned by journalists, he assumed that they are direct criticism of the current party leader, Rui Rochawhich, he said, fails to “actively listen to members”, “transparency” and “delegation to the competent bodies”.
“The Liberal Initiative must recognize that the success of the party depends on its members and that, without them, the party does not exist”, he stated in his speech.
Carla Castro? We welcome anyone who has left
Asked if you want Carla Castro — she too (in 2022) to lead the party, but left it in collision with Rui Rocha — come back, Rui Malheiro considered that the party he wants to lead has the capacity to accommodate all liberals.
“Whether it’s Carla Castro or any other member who left, we welcome all these people into our party. It should only make us proud to build a richer, more prosperous and more liberal party and country”, he stressed.
Rui Malheiro proposed “an internal reorganization that gives more autonomy for local nuclei“, which invests in political training for party members and “which creates more transparent and accessible participation mechanisms”.
Alone in the primaries
The “United for Liberalism” movement announced on Tuesday that the national advisor of the Liberal Initiative (IL) Rui Malheiro would be a candidate for party leadership at the National Convention on February 1 and 2, 2025.
Rui Malheiro was the only candidate who presented himself in the movement’s primaries, which took place on Monday, reaching 88% of the votes among the 96 voters, after much speculation as to who would take on the liberals’ internal opposition.
The primary process was triggered after former IL presidential candidate Tiago Mayan Gonçalveswho until recently led the movement, gave up the race for IL leadership, after having forged signatures as president of a parish council in the Porto district.
Regarding Rui Malheiro’s candidacy, the statement pointed out that it “reflects the desire to take the values of the “United for Liberalism” movement to a new level, promoting a renewed and ambitious vision for the party”.
“The objective is to build a political project that reinforce the pillars of liberalismfocusing on individual freedom, entrepreneurship and equal opportunities, preparing IL to face the challenges of the future”, highlighted the movement.
Rui Malheiro, from 42 yearshas been a member of IL since 2020, the year in which he also joined the party’s National Council. He is currently in his second consecutive term as national advisor and also serves on the IL Office of Energy Studies.
On Monday, on SIC Notícias, Rui Rocha also announced that he would run for re-election as party leaderensuring that it has the “necessary energy” to make the party “a solution of courage, change and governance”.
