Reflections of a democracy in agony!
After the Paschal period-time of collection, introspection and rebirth-the country awakens, not for hope, but to aggravate it from deep discomfort, to the installed and affirmed distrust. We live times of vain promises, disbelief leaders and a tired society, plunged into a disturbing democratic apathy. We are not far from a break: a country aimlessly, ruled by a system that repeats itself, without renewing, without reforming, without listening. Even before the legislative election campaign begins formally, there are too evident signs to be ignored. Portugal crosses a moment of disturbing apathy, where political protagonists seem more busy with their places or their “personal cases” than with collective destiny. This has long been happening, but except for better opinion, never as today, political parties have been so closed about themselves. They work today as family and bound structures, impervious to criticism and renewal. The internal reproduction of ineffective, mediocre political elites has become a rule-and the height is ironically in the party’s own party, which is presented with almost the entire Council of Ministers, including names marked by little governing ineffectiveness. There are no reserves or alternates in the bank anymore! And, those who could eventually be even warming, in the face of the « example that comes from above. » The parties have long failed to integrate paintings with evidence given in civil society. Institutional policy has moved away from active citizenship and became a trampoline of personal careers. Party youth, once the cradle of convictions, is today, except for honorable exceptions, school of opportunism. I am still from the time when the parties presented with pomp and circumstance new paintings that added value to politics. Today the good escape from active politics as the devil flees from the Easter cross. In a short time, the political class has managed to end the presumption of innocence, professional, banking confidentiality and respect for private life. Who is the madness with a life of their own, with family and name to argue that he throws himself into this muddy cauldron?
The consequence is clear: ideas, solutions and references are scarce. Irrealist promises are multiplied and the same failed prescription is repeated-launching money on problems replaces structural reforms, and public works announced, serve more media cycles than, in some cases, the public interest. It is factual that since the 4th quarter of 2015, there has been a growth of 45% of public jobs in the careers of higher and intermediate leaders, reaching 15,921 in the 4th quarter of 2024 and the number of total civil servants has also increased (+14% since 2015). And what did you do in the taxpayers’ pocket work?
Health dying with unbearable waiting times, exhausted professionals and abandoned users. Education struggles not to lose teachers, quality and relevance. Housing has become a nightmare for an entire generation and not only for those who arrive, deluded with a socialist policy of “wide-door” and dream salesmen. Social security is insufficient and unequal in so many cases. Justice is slow, ineffective and sometimes incomprehensible. The defense, fights against decades of divestment and the left foot boots appears to the right foot. Corruption, in turn, tends to remain an open wound, without sanction or example.
The country lives in a precarious balance, where macroeconomic numbers hide microdramatic realities. The tax system remains unfair, heavy and penalizing for those who work and produce. Inflation consumes the nominal increases of pensions. And immigration, instead of being regarded as an opportunity, is poorly managed, improvised and generating avoidable tensions.
It is not only youth who has lost hope and emigrates while having strength. These are the retired, qualified professionals, entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens. Everyone is exhausted, day after day, confidence in a partisan political system that does not respond, does not change, does not renew itself.
The approach of another electoral cycle, which, since Easter should announce a new time, comes rather as a heavy stone over the tomb of trust, postponing – once again – the resurrection of citizens’ faith in democracy. Vote for what? Vote for whom? Vote for what? Do not vote, solve? When they always reappear to propose a “national salvation” in the form of a central block-which if it is no longer seems like a block of interests-the question imposes: will we really live a functional democracy?
Given the evident exhaustion of the current system, political survival is no longer enough. The country needs democratic and ethical rehabilitation. And that requires conscious action, new protagonisms, fresh ideas and a lot of political courage.
Political regeneration is not made with discourses: it requires a clear and ambitious program. State reform is necessary – a more agile, efficient and digital public administration; Justice has to be swimming and pedagogical – effective and deterrent sanctions; Education needs purpose – curriculum innovation, teacher appreciation and focus on excellence; The National Health Service has to be functional – with reinforced primary care and retention of professionals – with the support of the private, capable of doing what the public insists on wanting to do; Housing needs to be affordable – encouraging fiscal policy and rehabilitating urbanism; Fiscal reform has to be fair – more progressivity, less bureaucracy, more money in the taxpayer’s pocket; Controlled and regulated immigration – more humanistic, integrative and disciplined, the credible defense, with strategic investment and appreciation of the military, recognizing the role of the Armed Forces as a sovereign and modern pillar of the democratic regime; The fight against corruption has to be effective – with reinforced means and total autonomy of the supervisory entities; The National Cohesion Plan has to be territorial – real and continued investment inside and islands; Civic participation has to be extended – open primaries, local referendums, digital consultation, electronic vote, and “Last but not Least”, our politicians have to strive for rigor and truth – end of illusory promises, commitment to transparency.
The phrase « then does not complain » is hard, but necessary and the responsibility of all of us. If we do not lock this « march of condemned, » democracy will weaken. If we do not require responsibility, truth and vision, we will remain resignation.
Voting is more than a right – it is a duty and a weapon of transformation. But a poorly used weapon can make us unarmed. It is in our hands: either we shiver path with demand and lucidity, or we will be accomplices of a decay without return. Just as Easter celebrates the new life that is reborn from sacrifice, the vote must be the conscious act of those who do not give up hope, but deposits it, with faith and courage, in the future that together we want to resurrect.
Colonel
