Iniciativa Liberal Prepares for Leadership Change
This weekend, Iniciativa Liberal (IL) is holding its IX National Convention in Loures, where approximately 1,500 members are registered to elect the next party president. The contest is between the current leader, Rui Rocha, and national advisor Rui Malheiro.
Historical Context
This marks only the second time in IL's history that there will be a presidential contest. Rui Rocha was elected leader in 2023 with 51.7% of the votes, defeating Carla Castro and José Cardoso. Since its formal establishment on December 13, 2017, IL has had four presidents, including Rocha and previous leaders João Cotrim Figueiredo, Carlos Guimarães Pinto, and Miguel Ferreira da Silva.
Membership Growth
According to official data, IL currently boasts 7,258 members, reflecting a 20% growth since the last convention in 2023, where the party had 6,025 members.
Political Structure
IL operates with three national political bodies: the National Convention, National Council, and Executive Committee, along with two technical bodies (Jurisdiction Commission and Oversight Commission). It also has local structures called nuclei and internal units such as the Study Office and Youth Group.
Founding and Electoral Journey
IL was founded by the Associação Iniciativa Liberal in September 2016 to unite all liberal Portuguese citizens. It launched its electoral journey in the 2019 European elections, securing 0.88% of the votes. However, in the 2022 legislative elections, IL achieved significant success, garnering 273,399 votes (4.91%) and obtaining eight parliamentary seats.
Recent Developments
In the March 2024 legislative elections, IL maintained its position as the fourth political force in parliament with eight deputies, while in the 2024 European elections, it reached its best result ever, obtaining 358,458 votes (9.08%) and electing two MEPs.
Leadership Transition
The party's leadership has seen several changes, with Miguel Ferreira da Silva being the first president elected in 2017. Following him, Carlos Guimarães Pinto and João Cotrim Figueiredo led the party, with Rocha winning the leadership in January 2023. Now, Rui Malheiro aims for the presidency after Tiago Mayan Gonçalves withdrew due to controversy over falsified signatures.
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