Liberals see Cotrim as the 'salvation' for the Presidential Elections

MEP João Cotrim Figueiredo is seen internally as the only candidate within the Liberal Initiative (IL) likely to advance to the presidential elections, Nascer do SOL has learned. "There is no other internal candidate who can compete with the other candidates, and we mustn't forget that he was the one who managed to 'break records' in the European elections by surpassing 9%, securing two seats in the European Parliament for the first time. Just go back to 2019 to realize that the party only obtained 0.9% and failed to elect a single MEP," admit activists interviewed by our newspaper.

And they also point out other advantages: "His election as vice-president of the liberal Renew Europe group in the European Parliament increased his international visibility and reinforced his image as a politician with a European and institutional profile," they add.

This hypothesis certainly comes as no surprise, as this availability was put forward by João Cotrim de Figueiredo himself, although he stated that the decision has not yet been made and that it also depends on the support of entities other than IL, without wanting to provide details.

This possibility was welcomed by the party leader, who considered the MEP to have "all the characteristics" to represent liberal values in the presidential elections, admitting that she hoped his candidacy would materialize. "He is a person who possesses all the characteristics that are fundamental to occupying the space of liberal ideas and values, of this uncompromising defense of more freedom, of less government, of a much more efficient state," Mariana Leitão emphasized.

In an interview with Nascer do SOL, he had already admitted that he would prefer a candidate who defends a liberal position, since he doesn't identify with any of the candidates already officially nominated. "The IL must support someone who defends liberal values. That's also why I put forward my candidacy. It has to be someone who deeply identifies with these issues, someone who wants to combat this state logic everywhere, someone who wants to be almost an agent who can put liberal ideas into discussion and showcase this different vision of the country we have. Of the candidates who have already presented themselves, I don't think there is any who meets these requirements," he acknowledged.