Local elections? "We'll get elected. The result will be much better."

In an interview with Lusa news agency before the 10th National Convention of the IL, on July 19 in Alcobaça, Mariana Leitão said that the party's objective in the local elections on October 12 will be to grow, but did not want to set an electoral target.

When asked if becoming mayor seems feasible, Mariana Leitão replied: "I think it's very difficult to be mayor at this stage."

"Now, one thing is certain: we will be able to get elected. (...) We will run for more councils, more municipal assemblies, more parish assemblies than four years ago. Therefore, it seems to me that, compared to four years ago, our results will be much better," he said.

The sole candidate for the IL leadership also noted that the party will be part of some local government coalitions -- for example, in Porto -- and therefore hopes to be present in municipal executives.

Regarding the presidential elections, Mariana Leitão said that the party intends to support someone who represents "liberal ideals" and refused to accept that it must necessarily be a member of the IL.

"I don't think it's mandatory to be a party member or not a party member. What matters is that it's someone who has these characteristics, understands the responsibility of the position, what is required of a President of the Republic, and knows when to speak," he said, postponing a decision until after the convention.

When asked whether support for any of the already announced presidential candidates has been ruled out, Mariana Leitão reiterated that IL's "primary objective" is to have someone who represents liberal values.

"None of the candidates who have presented themselves so far do so, and therefore, they represent this space very little. And, therefore, from the outset, they will always be excluded," he said.

In an analysis of the reasons for the party's result in the last legislative elections - in which the IL only obtained one more deputy than in 2024, which precipitated the resignation of Rui Rocha's former leader --, Mariana Leitão considered that it was due in part to "external phenomena", namely "episodes that occurred during the campaign", and the fact that there was a great focus on Spinumviva.

Internally, Mariana Leitão considered that the party may not have managed to convey its message well, which is sometimes "technically complex" and insists on the need for reforms and change, which "always brings some apprehension" and "needs to be demystified."

In terms of priorities for her leadership, Mariana Leitão stated that she intends to maintain the party's main banners -- such as tax simplification, state reform, or the health plan -- but also "embrace other areas."

Among these areas, Mariana Leitão highlighted labor legislation, emphasizing that the IL wants to "make the labor market more flexible" because she considers that, currently, it is "rigid" and causes "most companies to choose to hire in more precarious situations."

Another area in which IL also intends to invest is changes to the strike law, with Mariana Leitão stressing that the party will not question the right to strike, "which is constitutionally guaranteed", but intends to ensure that people are no longer "constantly harmed by strikes".

"There must be a logic of guaranteed minimum services that allow people to get to work, for example, when there is a public transport strike," he said, considering it unfair that, "because of a demand from one group of workers, everyone else is harmed."

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