André Kosters / Lusa
The former leader of the Liberal Initiative (IL), and candidate for President of the Republic, João Cotrim de Figueiredo
Liberal says he has already won over young people, “he still needs to convince the others”. Surveys indicate a threatening rise for Ventura and Seguro and experts believe there is room to harm Marques Mendes’ second round.
The race for the “throne” seems increasingly divided. Marques Mendes, Gouveia e Melo, Ventura and Seguro, seem increasingly ready to join the second round candidates João Cotrim de Figueiredojudging by the trend that the latest surveys show us.
In the most recent one from Pythagoras, the liberal appears with 12.6% of voting intentions, an increase of 3.5 percentage points compared to October, already close to Ventura; the most recent from Intercampus, already ahead of António José Seguro, with 11.5% of voting intentions.
The Pythagorean study revealed something interesting: Cotrim leads in voting intentions among voters aged 25 to 34 and appears in second place between 35 and 44 years old.
The liberal “entered the race decisively”, points out political scientist Marina Costa Lobo. Cotrim benefits from wear and tear compared to other candidates, says another expert: it is his “different speech” that sets him apart.
The shift of the electorate to the right also helps the rise of a liberal candidate, but distant from executive power. There he catches discontent from the PSD and PS.
Typically good in debates, there is room for harm [a ida à segunda volta de] Marques Mendes”, highlights Costa Lobo.
The nature of presidential elections also plays in their favor. This is a less partisan election, in which many voters allow themselves to “try out” candidacies that they would not choose in legislative elections. Voting for a liberal may not mean, for many, assuming oneself as a liberal or betting on liberals to govern, it is about choosing an institutional profile.
Experts remember, however, that Cotrim has “glass roofs”: the way he left the leadership of IL and the fact that he ran for Belém shortly after being elected MEP, despite insisting that he is “independent”.
