Rangel: "Permanent change in leadership affected IL's morale"

Miguel Rangel believes the party "never lost its irreverence," after several Liberal leaders called for "more irreverence." In an interview with Observador at the Liberal Initiative Convention, the outgoing secretary-general dismissed the notion that there is little enthusiasm surrounding the IL's next leader.

"People are tired of this constant change in leadership, which has affected the spirit of the Liberal Initiative." Rangel says he feels "great support" for Mariana Leitão, who has worked her way through the party, starting as a grassroots member. When asked about the disunity within the IL (Leitão's motion is called "The Freedom That Unites Us"), Rangel says that "liberals are always at odds with each other."

The IL's interim president, who is leaving the party leadership, said "all presidents have brought something new" to the party. He also explained the leadership's position regarding the Argentine president: "It's not about Javier Milei, it's about liberal ideas." Previous reservations about showing support for the Argentine "were due to the cult of personality, a cult we don't practice."

Miguel Rangel stated that, so far, there is "no Liberal candidate" in the presidential race and that João Cotrim de Figueiredo "would meet the requirements" of a Liberal presidential candidate. "The first requirement for a candidate is to want to be one," said the party's interim president, adding that Cotrim is "an excellent candidate and one of the best the IL has to offer." If the Liberals declare their support for the current MEP, Miguel Rangel will support that support.

"You can always aspire to that goal, but we don't know all the candidates. I consider João Cotrim de Figueiredo one of the best politicians working today." Miguel Rangel stated that he believes the former leader can "gather a lot of support outside the IL."

Regarding the upcoming local elections, Miguel Rangel said that, if the coalition led by Carlos Moedas wins in Lisbon, the Liberal Initiative will "outperform the CDS in terms of programmatic demands." The party's interim president did not reveal whether the Christian Democrats are better positioned on the candidate lists for the country's largest local authority, but he did say that the Liberal Initiative will lead the coalition's candidacies for Lisbon parish councils.