Tiago Petinga / Lusa
Rui Rocha and Mariana Leitão
Liberal Convention ends with the “ambitious” candidacy of “freedom against fear” of IL deputy.
IL’s re -elected president, Rui Rocha, announced today, in the closing speech of the IX National Convention in Loures, which Mariana Leitão will present themselves to the 2026 presidential electionssupported by the party. Rui Rocha said that “defense of freedom” of rigor and credibility are “essential aspects” to the profile that IL considers that a presidential candidate must have.
Speaking to journalists at the end of the speech, shortly after going down the stage, the vice president elected this Sunday considered that none of the names that have been spoken as candidates to Belém “actually represents the liberal space” and that his candidacy wants occupy this space.
Mariana Leitão, the party’s new vice president, said her candidacy is “freedom against fear”, with the aim of representing “the liberal space”, and is to take to the end.
“This candidacy is a Freedom candidacy against fearIt is an application for optimism, hope, ambition. This is what I want to represent, it is a Portugal that does not conform, it is a Portugal that is reviewed in these principles of the defense of freedom, individual freedom and being able to convey this desire to be more to the Portuguese, ”said IL’s parliamentary leader, said .
Leitão began as a coordinator of the Liberal Center of Oeiras, and was elected deputy (number 2 by the Lisbon Circle) in 2024.
According to, in the free time Leitão plays bridgesport in which it is federated, and which says it is a “good school” for politics.
The 42 -year -old candidate, born in Lisbon, says that It is not “against anyone”but it is opposed to the “idea that the country is stagnant and cannot leave here, that the country has to live in fear of having ambition.”
“No, we We have to be ambitiouswe have to want more and that’s what I want to represent, ”he said, adding that his goal is to“ show the Portuguese ”that it is possible to“ environmental and be more ”, but for that it is necessary to“ go to the fight ”and Do not conform and sit on the couch.
