Latest news and stories about public debate in Portugal for expats and residents.
A news report from 'Público' that is just the tip of the iceberg. Many news stories are not based on facts, but merely on ideological prejudices and the pursuit of audiences and likes.
António Pinto Ribeiro, a distinguished cultural programmer and former director of institutions like Culturgest and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, discusses his new book, 'Poder da Cultura - Questões Permanentes'. In this interview, he critiques the current state of Portuguese cultural policy, argues for a more complex understanding of the 'cultural system' beyond mere administration, and highlights the need for greater public debate and international engagement in the arts.
Social media has become central to how we inform and are informed. Between freedom of expression and a lack of accountability, an urgent reflection is needed: how can we ensure transparency and rigour without compromising public debate?
In recent months, the public sphere has been occupied by successive controversies, media wars, and debates that thrive more on reaction than reflection. The discussion surrounding 'trans' issues, which pitted João Costa against Paulo Núncio, is just one example of a repeating pattern: complex topics transformed into quick trenches, where few seek to understand and almost everyone seeks to win.
An ERC official stressed that framing the theme as a question aims to open space for debate and participation.
I therefore reject any irreversible medical intervention on the physical reality of any child until they reach the age of majority, and the State must guarantee appropriate psychological support for each situation for as long as necessary. You can cancel me once again, but I will not yield to a small group that wants to control the public debate.
Ignorance of facts and scientific conclusions holds men accountable for white-collar crimes, acting as “cannons” in a hidden war.
This is the influence of these “influencers”. The ostracism I wanted for them is for them to be left talking to themselves, but that will never happen — we are not the Athenians of the 5th century. Opinion by José Pacheco Pereira
Civil society figures will gather on Monday at the Cantina Velha of the University of Lisbon to take a stand on the war in Iran. “Stop the spiral of war” is the name of the initiative.
Enough of this tribalism that makes public debate impossible because every tribe thinks their topic belongs only to their private or tribal space; in this case, it is ballet and opera, but it could be Alentejo singing, rap, bicycles, doctors, animal rights activists, vegans, or the national curling league.
We've reached the point where a party is conflated with a postcode, and we no longer have political opponents but existential threats. The 'other' is no longer merely someone who thinks differently, but someone who should not exist.
A slightly exasperated piece asking for clarification of the term 'non-socialism' — questioning what it actually means and how it's used in political debate.
Without reliable data, it becomes impossible to evaluate public policies. Without a culture of rigour and evidence, only demagogy remains. Imagining a world in which the truth no longer matters is far too dangerous.
The term “bad manners” loses all ambiguity when it describes the practice of filling comment sections and social media with ignorance and insults, under the cowardly cloak of anonymity. Opinion by José Pacheco Pereira
The State (or perhaps not), the CGTP (which echoes the PCP's arguments) and António José Seguro (who apparently doesn't want debates) are the Good, the Bad and the Villain.
The presidential candidate said that “democracy thrives on participation, and participation requires trust, and that trust is built every day” and that, to achieve this, it is necessary “to change the public debate, from noise to facts”.
PAN's official vote of condolence failed to mention Brigitte Bardot's previous convictions for inciting racial and religious hatred, prompting criticism for ignoring her record.
