Iniciativa Liberal Prepares to Announce Presidential Candidate in Upcoming Weeks

Rui Rocha's Vision for the Presidency

The President of Iniciativa Liberal (IL), Rui Rocha, announced on Sunday in Porto that the party is set to reveal support for its own presidential candidate "in the coming weeks." He emphasized that the timing of this announcement is crucial and depends on finding the "right moment."

"I believe that Iniciativa Liberal has an obligation to present an alternative and a solution for the presidential elections, defending freedoms, rigor, and demanding standards in institutions, along with a reformist vision for Portugal and the State," Rocha told reporters.

Leadership and Strategy

Rui Rocha was speaking on the sidelines of the presentation of his team and the global strategy motion titled Accelerate Portugal, as he seeks re-election as the party leader. The party's convention is scheduled for February 1 and 2 in Loures, near Lisbon.

According to Rocha, only Iniciativa Liberal and its members are currently in a position to take on this challenge, hinting that he will publicly invite a party member to run for the presidency at the appropriate time. He mentioned he already knows who this person is, describing them as someone with enthusiasm, energy, and a liberal vision for the country.

Candidate Profile and Upcoming Elections

During his speech to supporters, Rocha outlined the profile of a potential candidate supported by IL: "a champion of freedom, rigor, transparency, and the fight for a more prosperous country with a robust economy, founded on institutional reforms and urgent changes to the State."

Regarding the upcoming local elections in the fall, Rocha indicated that IL should ideally run independently in municipalities where they choose to compete. However, he did not completely rule out the possibility of coalitions, stating, "I do not absolutely exclude it, but I wanted to affirm in this speech that Iniciativa Liberal is currently at a level where it is most natural to present its own lists, candidates, vision, and proposals." Any agreements with other parties would be considered exceptional and would need to meet specific criteria.