António Pedro Santos / Lusa
The leader of the liberal initiative presented this Saturday the resignation, following the results short of the expected in the last legislative elections, to “return the word to the militants”, and says that he will not apply for a new term.
Less than two weeks after legislative elections, Rui Rocha This Saturday, with immediate effect, was dismissed from the Presidency of the Libera (IL) initiative after two and a half years of leadership.
At the end of an executive committee meeting in Lisbon, the IL leader acknowledged that the party “did not reach the preponderance that everyone wanted ”in the legislatures of May 18.
Speaking to journalists at a press conference, Rui Rocha announced that will take the place as a deputy in the Assembly of the Republic, and explained that it leaves by not being clinging to office and before a new political cycle.
Rui Rocha guarantees that made the decision alone, “more than a week ago”e does not intend to intervene or take sides in the next internal elections. “It’s a decision of mine and only mine, and It is irreversible“He told reporters.
The IL leader explained that the decision arises from the evaluation made by itself two and a half years of party leadership and of the recent results of the legislative electionss, in which the liberal initiative reached the Best Legislative Resultsgrowing in the number of votes and elected deputies.
In an email sent to the militants, to which he had access to him, Rui Rocha says he fits “for renewing the political cycle” and to return the word to the militants.
“All I did was for the partyI did everything for the party and did everything with total detachment. And with that same detachment of those who have never been grabbed anywhere, After a deep reflection, I decided to present my resignation on this date ”, reads in the email of Rui Rocha.
“Serving the party now means Open the opportunity for a discussion on the future paths of the liberal initiative, the most appropriate strategic vision for the new political scenario and a new leadership“He added.
In the legislatures of May 18, the IL managed to increase your votefrom 4.94% in 2024 to 5.36% in 2025, and elect 9 Deputiesmore than in the previous elections, in 2024 – one, which left the liberals short of what would be necessary to form a majority parliamentary with ad.
In addition, the number of deputies elected by the democratic alliance91, is higher than the sum of mandates obtained throughout the left (69), which removes influence to the liberal parliamentary group in the assembly.
According to, despite the result obtained in the last elections, Rui Rocha’s leadership style “It was already contested for some time within the liberal initiative itself. ”
“Positioning, posture, idea that Rui Rocha brought to the party had some internal oppositions“Says the chief editor of the television jail, Hugo Matias.
Rui Rocha was the fourth president of the party, founded in 2017. He started the term on January 22, 2023, succeeding at the time João Cotrim de Figueiredowhich led the IL between December 2019 and January 2023.
