What’s the point?

As we welcome 2014, I feel there’s no need to analyze more what 2013 held within (as we have done that along the year). So let me go straight to the point.  

I have been curiously listening the Portuguese and other international political debates and it seems today that many good political speakers find it hard to get to the point, literally.

There have been political debates and speeches and conventions this weekend; and listening The Portuguese political ‘crème de la crème’ to convince their fellow members has been quite a trial, moreover,  extremely complicated. Let me explain: 

Very often I find them speaking without a point even though they surely must have one.

Today Paulo Portas the Vice PM of Portugal defended his political output in the CDS-PP party´s annual convention with an hour of speech, referring to statistics, things achieved but I have to admit that it was hard to grasp what he wanted to say. I find that increasingly frequent today; politicians loose their ability to exercise good public speaking and in Portuguese political field it is often still held very conservative and serious. That means no opening jokes; no short messages and endless monologs defending one’s ideas. I know, I’m yawning just thinking about it.

The thing is - this way the audience does not grasp your idea - unless you keep it simple; repeat somethings and make your message clear, the audience will start sleeping.

Even for us, political scientists, it is becoming trickier. Not to mention the citizens who want to hear the government explaining why do they cut pension funds, for instance. So often I´m finding myself asking; “what is his/her point?”

It seems that the days are over for great speeches like Kennedy’s “Ich bin ein berliner” or like Mandela’s great metaphors or wisdom he shared during his public speaking. Or like Henry “the great” Kissinger’s speeches - he often started with a joke and also had a metaphor in his pocket when he needed one. This is appealing to people. It takes charisma.

Public speaking is something you have to be good at, when you are a politician. David Cameron and Barack Obama are sure leading this sector as almost always they are incredibly clear and precise about what they speaking.

Finnish EU affair and trade minister, Alex Stubb also owns always a very stage friendly appearance as he owns a familiar attitude on stage and talks to his audience as he would to any citizen. He also repeats his messages using his “3 point method” several times. If his audience is asked afterwards what did they think about him, they will remember his theme and points he wanted to make.

Public speaking is still something that has a gender gap, as female leaders serious stance still takes on. Merkel has an incredibly serious way of talking and responding, however she does it very clearly. Margaret Thatcher also owned a great speaker’s hat, as she happened to even make a joke or two in the house of commons. Hilary Clinton and Tarja Halonen have been great examples of good female speakers in politics as their approach has been clear but owned a sense of humor and certain touch of sensitivity.

My point is, Portuguese leaders still have a long way to go in terms of communication. The change should happen sooner rather than later, since we are getting closer and closer to each other, thanks to technology - and in a fast pace. Not to mention during the crisis; citizens need now, more than ever, to understand their leaders.

Lastly, if there weren’t any Tv-channels explaining or pointing out main messages of political speeches; how many citizens would get the message straight away only by listening to it? Thats my point.

Last year I wrote about Simon Anholt and his marketing advice into campaigning as he emphasized strategy; substance and symbolic actions. The same can be applied to public speaking. Having substance is everything, as well as actions. Thus explaining them simply shouldn’t be too hard. 

However, watching any political leader from Antonio Seguro to Paulo Portas, they manage to spend almost 10 min just to greet everyone with all their necessary titles - not to mention statistics. And where is the message? Buried underneath it all. 

Examples of speakers, previously mentioned
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22VcyDNBbg8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SigB6LThpqk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGrfXtXU4ts

Season Greetings!

Getting into the holiday spirits and a political debate,- might not be the ideal combination. However, the Finns have managed to bring a little bit of it into the Christmas holidays as the former President Tarja Halonen happens to celebrate her birthday on the christmas eve.

It has been almost two years since her duties as a second term President or as a 'mother of this Nordic nation' came to an end but her popularity and good will attitude still carries on.

The city of Helsinki celebrated this special birthday by naming a park after her located in her childhood surroundings. Other climate panels and seminars and events have been organized to celebrate the 70th  birthday of Mrs. Halonen.

Presidency and legitimacy are a tough combination, moreover a very unlikely vision  in the Portuguese leadership scene,- as the current president enjoys severe unpopularity due to his distant behavior with Portuguese population, securing his management to the fact that Prime Minister fills up the main political stage. 

However, In Finland Tarja Halonen deserves to be noted more than she probably has as her interesting leadershipstyle and motherly nature combined formed a great political figure, much softer in a motherly way than Thatcher’s or Merkel’s style. Halonen as a self made woman, a daughter of a single parent paved her own way to the top as a minister in the end of the cold war.

Here is a video of excited Tarja fans thanking her for her service and giving birthday wishes (from two years ago already but still a ‘Facebook-share -hit’ among the Finns during Christmas season).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy29kXaYQeU

I’ld like to finish up pondering how could the relationship between the citizens and the political authority be improved in Portugal since the Portuguese president wouldn’t really enjoy more support even if there wouldn't be any euro crisis.  Why is it that the political leadership in Portugal is still stuck in the ice age?

 Hopefully we will meet again next year with new ideas and conflicts to think about! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2014!

  http://www.presidenthalonen.fi/en/

Reporting misery, truly media-sexy

 Almost all Portuguese tune in for the eight o’clock news every evening; thus, I no longer wonder why there are only two great political parties in full function in Portugal.

Media, plays a huge part delivering and shaping people opinions and often the late night news in almost all 5 news channels are dedicated for PSD or the Socialist party. The lastly mentioned as an oppositional party gathers the headlines criticizing the current events almost every night. It is definitely media-sexy. 

Media sexy, an event that gathers everyones attentions and forces a form an opinion, it is The hot potato.

Suffering from the aftermath of the euro crisis, turns everything inevitably politically media sexy. There is no green party explaining their vision for the economy in the 8 o’clock news, nor much of a current governing party CDS-PP (center right) not to mention the animal parties etc.  No, the media likes it this way as it can create new topics.

It is the Portuguese mentality that thrives from the ‘tristeza’, saddness and ‘miseria,-misery because it is easier for the media, than even trying to explain that the difference in the last trimester for inflation slowing down is a promising sign.

RTP being the official news channel founded by state can be the most guilty of bad journalism; as for instance the last euro crisis news piece; coming from Ireland; with the title “Ireland is gaining back its sovereignty”. Which is a very media sexy title for the Portuguese nation. Moreover, - relating to it becomes quite easy.

The truth is; Ireland never lost its sovereignty in the first place. As a basic political science methodology is that a country does not loose its territory; citizens & culture; nor governance over taking up a loan and paying it back. Again explaining this to the public is not media sexy. It never is.

So can there be something positive in this troika set up? Look at Latvia, a country who struggled the most getting back on its feet after the Soviet collapsed. For Last ten years fought hard financially and thus received a very welcomed EU membership and with the help of the EU; European Central Bank and IMF; it is one of the growing economies in the EU region.  After even a greater suffering and belt tightening than Portugal has experienced.

Therefore, if the troika program doesn’t produce the wanted results, then perhaps the blame lies within the Portuguese governing structure per se. Not the other way around. Once again put this in the news, not media sexy.

Lastly, the point is the media could for change try to emphasize something else other than the misery and actually try to find both aspects in to the story, as there always exists both sides. So far we only been hearing one.

By no means I am trying to say getting back on your feet is easy as a Nation, on the contrary. But if you loose hope, it is not cause of the IMF, that depends on the Nation itself.

I grew up in the late 80´s and 90´s Finland where economic depression was the first and the last thing one would hear during the day. Where teachers were constantly striking and ‘way-below -the belt’ fart humor glorified the TV channels to cheer up the people and where people did not know where and if will they work tomorrow. 

Thus, knowing the change will not happen in a day, it is a process leaving scars  but it will take a turn at some point.

Politicians & Brand Image

New Semester and new ideas! As you have probably already noticed; a new 'portugalitics' layout has been updated. As a matter a fact; lately I have been working on 'analyzing the concept of Nation Brand' and searched its impact in political marketing. Therefore, got a bit of a 'redesign blog image' urge myself! What do you think?

Simon Anholt a regular lecturer in the area of Nation Brand and a foreign policy and image specialist, introduces some fresh aspects in his keynote speech in the European Parliament down below. According to Mr. Anholt "a politician is as much a brand image manager these days as a policy maker". Indeed. However, as it seems the portuguese,- dare I say it, have underestimated their voters in terms of social media and its powers. The stigma of not taken seriously during a financial crises in case someone tweets about it, still haunts vividly. You see, taking care of one's image through social media eats creditability in the portuguese culture. This is interesting, since in Northern Europe, tweeting or blogging  are keenly used instruments to present ideas. In other words, to promote image even if its during the euro crisis.

If it's all about getting closer to your voters, I don't see what could possible be the issue here.

Money talks and bullshit walks

So the election campaining can be set aside for the next four years in the portuguese localities. The leaf lets have been passed on among the electoral souveniers like calendars; umbrellas; pencils; pens; keychains and numerous concerts and facebook campain later; here we are with the results.

The four main parties CDS-PP (democratic centre party, a.k.a conservative party: PSD (social democrats)  and PS (socialist party) and CDU (coalition between the Communist Party and the Greens) visibly campaigned on behalf of their principles.

So it was the Socialist Party who claimed the victory and protest votes of the portuguese against  PM Coelhos’s government, however, unknowing it wouldn’t change its course.

I’m having some trouble believing in the democracy of these elections not only because of the system itself, (for which I get back to in the end) but for fact that all parties seem to have a drastic budget difference in their election campaing. PSD and PS both have some serious money used. Looking at their budget for a financially struggling Portugal even for these elections seems quite absurd. Not to mention, there is never a fair playground to start with towards a new commers or other smaller parties. Locally, we can disscuss a difference of tens of thousands of euros. Therefore, money talks and you know what may walk. There is no price roof for a campaign budget. Shouldn’t there be?

  However, there is one silverlining and a winner; Mr. Rui Moreira, who ran for The Porto city Mayor’s office independantly and won.  Since the biggest Parties tend to be under the power wing of Porto’s corporate world, -some might say it was a bit of a miracle to get in the top three, not to mention to win. 

Well, now we no know the results. Time will tell who can actually get their hands dirty of the actual work as majority of portuguese localities enjoy a great deficit to fix. And I really mean concretely get their hands dirty.

I’ld wish to see a great example like this italian small town mayor Giuseppe Figoni, who has managed to save money by doing the gutters himself ans fixing road signs etc. It doesn’t keep money circuling by outsoarcing services but as an only mayor in the whole of italy has managed to save money. 

 video about Mr. Figoni, click here

Back to the Portuguese electoral playground; as a foreigner the whole point of any democratical elections here seems absurd since nobody (other than presidential elections) votes for a person, instead you vote for a party. A political party then agrees amongst its members who gets in and who stays out.

To sum- up, actual change will not arrive to Portugal before a new constitution; taxation reform and new electoral system; where democracy is held by letting people to choose and vote for a real candidate other than a party unknowing who is going to lead them on for the next four years. Unfortunately, this won’t still happen at least for few more years to come.

There might not be light in the end of the tunnel

Lately I´ve been driven by the news from my finnish hometown Tampere, in western Finland; where the city hall will be voting whether or not to proceed with a 120 million euro loan to build a tunnel - due to the growing traffic jams.

The current tunnel issue has been the debate of this summer. Due to economic difficulties the city hall’s majority is still divided wether to pursue with it or not. Opponents favor other alternatives; opening train lines, other public transpotations or even widening the current freeway. Now - as an outsider - following this disscussion I can’t help but think of Porto as a great example. For once, there is something a northern european city hall could perharps learn from the extremely traffic jammed southern European cities.

As it happens that, Portugal is famous for its overcrowded-roadheaven, where everywhere you turn you can find a new highway or a tunnel either built or being built. Although, there is a catch. Every vehicle needs to pay a toll fee to use those roads.

Due to the current economic difficulties, the tolls have taken upon an even higher fee. As a result the national (toll free) roads are full again, and so is the (forgotten and outdated) public transpotation.

I find this matter as a very serious possibility that might happen to my home city as well. As a matter of fact, the Finnish government was disscussing the toll road fee procedure - possibly to begin within in the finnish road system starting next year.

It seems that the ‘solution’ is to get in debt now, to solve a possible future problem, without considering its serious repercussions in society, nor technological advances.

As a result of the vote, the worst scase scenario would be; The city hall would commit to a loan; a tunnel would be built and money invested for a secure new highway. Road tolls find their way in, and citizens would find driving too expensive as the gasoline prices go up. Then, a need to invest to public transpotations starts growing and when there is no more money to invest the situtation becomes tricky... and more loans will be needed.

After seeing how useless investments to a fallacious ‘road heaven’ can be made - my own opinion assures me that such a project should be rejected.

After all, I must admit how dissapointed I am about how the finns ignore the EU’s pressure to turn the green gear on. The car scene wil be extremelly different by 2030, and all current mobility projects obsolete.

P.S. I’ve never seen a real traffic jam in any finnish highway or a freeway and to consider Tampere as the Northern European most populated inland city is truly amusing.....

The human side of politics....

After the summer holidays, one tends to naturally to approach this never ending political battlefield with a slightly lighter manner. So after spending time up in the northern part of Europe and watching the lighter side of scandinavian leaders, I began to wonder when will southern european leaders change or alter their conservative leadership? By this of course,  meaning legitimacy and humanity as a aspect presented to the public. After all, that is what the EU is all about. Bringing it closer to people.

As an example here three examples from youtube:

Last week norwegian PM Jens Stoltenberg who drove a taxi to test to know what were people really thinking. Second, Previous finnish president Mrs. Tarja Halonen, who's last year as a president was documented into a movie, showing different aspects of her work from official visit to showing her playing with her pets.  Lastly,  the swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt taking part to a funny sketch for Eurovision song contest during the interval.