There’s something magical about elections in Portugal.
Not because of the democratic celebration — which does exist, of course :)
— but due to the extraordinary ability to mobilise… almost no one.
Every four years (or sometimes sooner, because politics here loves drama and soap operas), the Portuguese are called to decide who will govern the country. And, with a bit of luck, 50% of them show up. The rest? They’re busy — perhaps thinking that voting is like signing up for the gym in January: it starts with great enthusiasm, but then… well, it fades.
Abstention remains one of the largest political parties in Portugal — unfortunately without a manifesto, no promises, but always loyal to itself. If it had airtime, it might say something like:
"I don’t believe in anyone, but I really enjoy watching debates with popcorn."
The Promises (and Instagram Filters)
During campaign season, the country turns into a land of promises. Some bolder than others: lowering taxes, improving the NHS, solving the housing crisis, eliminating queues at Tax Offices, giving people back the years lost to time, and even teaching young people how to do mental arithmetic.
But after the elections, everything comes out with that Instagram Valencia filter: it looks nice, but reality has dark circles under its eyes.
The problem isn't just making promises — it's the lack of any transparent system to monitor them. Because, let’s face it, if a politician said: “I promise that in two years, you’ll be able to check online whether I kept my word”, you’d probably hear a nervous chuckle coming from Parliament.
What if there were an app for all this?
Imagine an app where you could see who promised what, when, at what cost, and whether they followed through. Push notifications like:
“Good afternoon. Your favourite MP has just changed their mind. Would you like to remove them from your favourites?”
“Promise #17 failed. Would you like to send a disappointed emoji?”
Ah, dreaming is free. But dreaming of a digital system of accountability and secure online voting — now that’s a bit more ambitious. And yet, in Portugal, that’s like flying cars: everyone talks about them, no one ever sees one.
Winners and Losers?
In every election, analysts debate moral victories, political victories, and technical defeats. But the truth is that, through it all, the real winners are the political commentators. They never lose. They’re always there: with charts, projections, and phrases like “this is a surprising election night” — even when PS and PSD end up practically tied, as usual.
And Us?
We, the voters, wander between hope and resignation, irony and cynicism. And many, unfortunately, between the sofa and abstention. But deep down, some still believe.
Because believing — even if laughing while doing so — may be the most political act of all.
(AI generated image)
