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João Cotrim de Figueiredo
Portuguese businessman and politician (born 1961) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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João Fernando Cotrim de Figueiredo (born 24 June 1961) is a Portuguese businessman and Liberal Initiative politician. He was the party's first member of the Assembly of the Republic, for Lisbon, in October 2019. He was the leader of the party between October 2019 and January 2023, during which the party won eight seats in the 2022 election. He was elected a Member of the European Parliament in the 2024 European election, and is a candidate in the 2026 Portuguese presidential election.
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Education and career
Cotrim de Figueiredo was born and grew up in Lisbon, where he sold clothes hangers door-to-door for a company established by his great-grandfather. He attended the German School Lisbon before studying Economics at the London School of Economics, and then obtained a Masters in Business Administration from the NOVA University Lisbon.[1][2]
While studying in the British capital, Cotrim de Figueiredo supported himself with jobs including serving cocktails at the Serpentine Galleries, later reflecting that workers were looked at with contempt at such events.[3] He said that he lived on Brussels sprouts due to their low cost and versatility.[2]
Cotrim de Figueiredo worked in executive positions at Compal, Nutricafés, Privado Holding and TVI. In 2015 he was elected vice president of the European Travel Commission. He was the president of Turismo de Portugal – a government-appointed post – from December 2013 to February 2016.[1][2]
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Politics
In July 2019, Cotrim de Figueiredo was chosen to head the Liberal Initiative's list in Lisbon for the October legislative elections.[4] He became the party's only Assembly member, in their first elections.[5]
After the resignation of Carlos Guimarães Pinto, Cotrim de Figueiredo ran for leader of the party in December 2019 and was elected with 96% of the votes.[6]
In the snap election in January 2022, the Liberal Initiative received 5% of all votes, rising from one seat to eight and forming a parliamentary group. Cotrim de Figueiredo said that the group would be a firm opposition to socialism.[7]
On 22 January 2023, Cotrim de Figueiredo was succeeded as leader of the Liberal Initiative by Rui Rocha, whom he had endorsed.[8]
In the 2024 European Parliament election in Portugal, Cotrim de Figueiredo led the Liberal Initiative list, which had two of the country's 21 members elected to the European Parliament.[9] He ran for the leadership of the Renew Europe group of liberal MEPs, but withdrew.[10]
In August 2025, Cotrim de Figueiredo announced his candidacy for the 2026 Portuguese presidential election.[11]
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Electoral history
IL leadership election, 2019
Legislative election, 2022
European Parliament election, 2024
See also
References
External links
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