“The idea of there not being anyone in this country is unbearable: I have to run for elections”

In 1985, the Socialist Party candidate to the next presidential elections unabatedly signed the Treaty for Portugal’s entry into the European Union. This was the first political act in Portugal that I accompanied with enthusiasm. It was a victory for Portugal and it definitely put us in the route to Europe and to development. In 1986, the candidate from the left on the next presidential elections was elected, for the first time, PR. These were the first elections in my memory, where I supported, in an active and emotional way, Mário Soares. In 1991, Mário Soares was overwhelming re-elected PR (even then, the phenomenon of the “void” already showed some signs). Possible future PR, probable future PR, Socialist Party candidate to the next presidential elections, candidate of the left to the next presidential elections, Mário Soares. I apologize for repeating myself, but I do not get tired of repeating it, since they tell me that it is true, I read it on the newspapers, but I still cannot believe it. As I write this article, Wednesday, the 31st August, early morning, I still have a small hope that he will back down at the last moment (but, deep down I know it is not going to happen). The candidacy of Mário Soares, a unique man in the Portuguese history of the second half of the 21st century, represents the complete failure in the renovation of the political system, a kind of generational politic scleroses (with its origins in Mário Soares’ generation but also, although to a smaller extent, in Cavaco’s one) that halted the renovation, settling in its own failure (of being able to put together parties and bring about capable politic leaders) the reason of its maintenance in power. “There is no one else, I have to advance”, must have thought Mário Soares when he decided to decide to be a candidate for candidate. It is this “no one” that worries me. Is it, as it seems, that there really is not anyone else in the Portuguese left (the right is not much better) capable of presenting himself as a strong candidate to PR in the beginning of the XXI century? And is it the case that, because there is no one else, exactly one of those responsible for this void is going to be elected, taking into account the long-term exercise of party power by Mário Soares. Honestly, the next presidential elections deserved the occurrence of surprises. To the left and to the right. Somebody that would challenge this “back-and-forth” of “addicts” to power and history. That would halt the paradox in the genesis of this process that may not be more than an intimate dialog of the kind: “the idea of the Socialist Party, my Socialist Party, giving its support to a comrade more dedicated to Arts than to electoral victories is unbearable; the idea of the Socialist Party, my Socialist Party, supporting Freitas do Amaral is even more unbearable; the idea of not being anyone in this country is unbearable: I have to run for elections ”

“Demain ne sera pas comme hier, il sera nouveau et dépendra de nous”[1]

Local elections are nearing. It is a moment for speeches and promises. For inaugurations and (particularly) wide political smiles. Time for new demands (and for the renewal of old ones), for stickers, electrical appliances (was it true?) and little flags. A time very often for a dangerous discrediting of the political system. In a context of deep changes in the role of local government (in which they can affirm themselves or not as promoters of development) and of great budget limitations, it is more and more important to define, together with the population and other actors of regional development, the priorities of public local action. What does the population want from its councillors? How to adjust public spheres to a world in transformation, allowing the Administration to be at the same time creative and renown? What is our collective project? What mobilizes us? These are some of the questions I would like to, at least see being considered and debated during the next electoral campaign. To decide about my vote, I am going to look for ideas and projects for the region. Someone who throws challenges to the population and to the actors of development. Who understands the importance of the economy and growing competition (increasingly also between local councils) in the caption and maintenance of knowledge, talents and investments. Someone who associates strategy and actors, public and private, cooperative and entrepreneurial. That says what he want to do and with whom he wants to do it with. That promotes the participation of actors, committing them and hold them co-responsible for the future. That understands that the collective intelligence of a region is far from just concerning the public sector. And that from that perception draws conclusions. Someone who, basically, believes, in permanence without hesitations that “tomorrow will not be as yesterday, it will be new and will depend on us”.

[1] Extract of “Phénoménologie du temps et prospective” (Gaston Berger, 1964).