In her first campaign as leader, Mariana Leitão had set the objective of tripling the number of elected officials in 2021a goal that was eventually achieved.
The president of the Liberal Initiative was, on Sunday, very “proud and satisfied” with the election of councilors in municipal majorities in Porto and Lisbon and, in her own lists, in Braga and Castelo Branco.
Speaking to journalists at IL headquarters, Mariana Leitão considered that there had been a “extraordinary result” of the partyat a time when the “numbers are not closed”.
“We were decisive in closing the doors to the radical left” and “we will have councilors implementing liberal policies in Lisbon and Porto”, in addition to those elected, on their own lists, in Braga and Castelo Branco.
A IL “is already a party that manages to have extraordinary territorial coverage”with “such a short time of existence”, he added.
In her first campaign as leader, Mariana Leitão had set the objective of tripling the number of elected officials in 2021a goal that was eventually achieved.
“Everything indicates that we will achieve the objectives we had set of tripling the number of elected officials” and “we already have a presence in 18 districts of the country”, so, “without a doubt, it is a result that makes us proud”, he said.
To do the full accounting, the “night will be a little longer”, because “the numbers are not closed”, he highlighted.
“Rui Rocha ran an extraordinary campaign”
Regarding her predecessor in the leadership of IL, who ran in Braga, Mariana Leitão praised: “Rui Rocha ran an extraordinary campaign, congratulations and The question will be whether we elect a second councilor or not.”
In relation to tonight’s election results, in which maintains a strong weight of PS and PSD in the municipalitiesthe liberal leader recalled that, “in some local authorities it is necessary to remember that the IL will have a more determining role”.
And, in some municipalities, such as Lisbon and Porto, “liberal policies will be a reality”.
For future local authorities, Mariana Leitão hopes to see “a slightly more different map”, with “more presence of the Liberal Initiative”.
The headquarters was opened to supporters who, as the night progressed, ended up leaving, applauding only the election of the first councilor, José Henriques (Castelo Branco). The rest were only confirmed later.
Throughout the night, the giant screen in the headquarters’ courtyard indicated the local elected officials, prompting, at times, some applause from supporters.
