Latest news and stories about political culture in Portugal for expats and residents.
Aguiar-Branco's jocular tone contributes to the degradation of democracy and serves precisely to validate the capture of politics by unscrupulous individuals. Opinion by Susana Peralta
The vast majority of people living in Portugal did not live through the 25th of April, and this obvious demographic fact has fuelled the thesis of popular disinterest in the date, particularly among young people. Opinion by Manuel Loff
April is not, and was not—even during the revolutionary process that followed—a confrontation between right and left. April is, and will always be, a fight for democracy. Voting is merely a door that opens; what we do next determines the regime in which we live. What diminishes us, when we are part of the majority, is intolerance towards minorities.
Five decades after the 25th of April Revolution, the Portuguese public's view of this foundational moment of democracy is defined by a solid historical memory. A national survey conducted for the 50th anniversary commemorations reveals a broad consensus on the significance and legacy of April, while also highlighting concerns regarding the present and future. While the Revolution remains a structural pillar of Portuguese political culture, with most respondents viewing it as a positive and decisive event, there is a perceived insufficiency in how this history is taught in schools. The survey suggests that while the memory of the past is robust, there is a growing critical demand for the current democratic system, reflecting a balance between a consolidated historical consensus and contemporary societal anxieties.
This post-Easter Monday held a particular significance for me, marking the eve of my 50th birthday. Reflecting on this milestone, I observe a structural problem in Portugal and other democracies: the habit of indefinite tenure in positions of power. Whether in politics, business, or institutions, many individuals insist on remaining long after their cycles have ended, treating public service roles as personal property. This culture blocks new generations, stifles innovation, and normalizes the idea that leaving is a loss, rather than an act of responsibility. While experience and continuity are valuable, a healthy democracy requires the recognition that every tenure must have an end. True maturity lies in knowing when to step aside, ensuring that the country can continue to evolve by making space for new voices.
The Constitution does not serve a political project, but rather a common one: the country we share
The fundamental law was approved 50 years ago as an unlikely synthesis of liberal-Western and socialist models. That was, and remains, the source of its virtue and its difficulties. A culture of constitution cannot be decreed.
The Socialist Party influencer who shows that the congress had more content behind the scenes than at the podium. And Marcelo? He dodged questions like Maniche on an inspired day.
Democracy is not limited to rules, institutions, or elections. While essential, these elements are insufficient. True sustainability relies on the perception that decisions made on our behalf are legitimate, even when we disagree with them. There is a fundamental distinction between formal legitimacy—derived from legal procedures—and perceived legitimacy, which stems from citizens recognizing power as fair and respectful. Many democracies fail when they maintain formal legality but lose perceived legitimacy, leading to public unrest. In an era of polarization, empathetic leadership becomes a strategic necessity, not a sign of weakness. It involves understanding diverse interests and fostering coexistence. Ultimately, democracy is a system for living together; without mutual recognition and institutional respect, it risks internal erosion.
Leiria was the stage for a night where the only accounts that escaped investigation were those of humour: the stage was the Comedy Court and the presenter, the supreme judge of Portuguese sarcasm, handed down sentences on everything and everyone – from fuel prices to the undeclared calories of municipal lunches.
The Republic is full of empty chairs. The Constitutional Court, institutions, institutes, and corporations are awaiting high-level appointments and guidance on high standards. Both elected and appointed positions are at stake, revealing the egalitarian matrix of a Republic of ambition without competence. The political culture of a good position in the public administration...
Political choices are one thing, which can be scrutinised and criticised, but the person who dedicated his life to public service, having served as Minister of State, Minister of Finance, President of the Eurogroup, and Governor, is another. The respect that a public servant deserves and the respect inherent to these offices must be preserved.
He gets irritated and asks for the window to be opened: “Hey officer, get lost!”
It is time for our political class to restore dignity to their word, honour the resources we have entrusted to them, and finally begin working in the fruitful silence that builds the future.
It was a very dignified ceremony, without incidents or lack of respect. Nowadays, this is not common.
One learns, all too soon, the art of strategic silence and timely bowing. Where the grain in the gears of the parent party should be pulsing, only a disciplined and grey echo remains.
In 1994, when in Portugal politicians who lied and insulted were still obliged to resign, and there wasn't the farce there is today surrounding wine, I went to Vila Grande. Column by Pedro Garcias
It's not for nothing that dictators hate artists. Perhaps art, or the kind of art that deserves the name, is a weapon capable of killing not the fascists themselves, but the fascist ideology. Opinion by Fernanda Hamann
Democracy reaches its peak: candidates say little, commentators explain everything, and the voter shirks the tedium of forming their own opinion.
Mateus Araújo's husky voice is one of several young people energising António José Seguro's caravan, drawn from across the political spectrum. From 'Bella Ciao' to the 'rock of freedom', what motivates those who bring the campaign to life?
Never before has Portugal been subjected to candidates for the Presidency of the Republic dancing the night away in a discotheque, throwing themselves out of a kayak during a daredevil The post Presidential election: final campaign days marked by increasingly bizarre behaviour appeared first on Portugal Resident.
What is it to suggest that the country will improve by solving just one problem? A lack of knowledge, of ideas — in other words, a lack of substance, which is compensated for by the cult of the chosen one's infallibility.
Being a young moderate requires not only a deep love of Portugal but also saint-like patience and warrior-like resilience. It means explaining that shouting 'shame' doesn't reduce taxes or create wealth. Column by Pedro Miguel Marques
Marcelo started the ginjinha tradition in Barreiro. Will it end with the president's term? And is parliament being negligent?
