section_path: Background/Leadership changes and challenges/Liberal Initiative
section_name: Liberal Initiative
paragraph_text: Liberal Initiative
  
  On 8 April 2024, former 2021 Presidential candidate Tiago Mayan Gonçalves, announced a manifesto called "United by liberalism" and said he would be a candidate for the party's leadership, thus challenging incumbent leader Rui Rocha. On 20 June 2024, Mayan Gonçalves officially launched his bid for the party's leadership. A few months later, after it was revealed that he had forged signatures during his time as Parish President of Aldoar, Foz do Douro e Nevogilde, he dropped out from the leadership race. A leadership convention was scheduled for 1 and 2 February 2025, with party leader Rui Rocha running for another term. After the withdrawal of Mayan Gonçalves, Rui Malheiro, a party councillor, announced his bid against Rocha. On 2 February 2025, during the party's convention held in Loures with 1,545 registered members to vote, Rocha was reelected with more than 73% of the votes: