As a foreigner in Portugal; one tends to have automatically a different out take and an aspect as a whole towards any drastic news or events and especially on politics.
The upcoming municipal elections in Portugal have already started to influence the street scene not to mention the on going troika- debate from the left has lasted since the current social democrats came into power two years ago.
However, as a young female I’ve come across several election adds with men well on their forties (to be the polite here) not to mention I’ve only seen one ad by a female candidate.
Now, me personally am not a fan of any quotas group in general, therefore, do not think females should be added just because they are there but I have to admit that the still lack of them is mind striking, after the all we are in the 21st century. I’m getting a feeling that the current political leadership in portugal is on going with a cold war twist negotiations terms among the portuguese business elite which is of course male orientated. So I ask, in what gap would the women enter or fit in the first place?
More importantly, I was reading local political news from Finland earlier this week . This headliner was about a newly selected leader for party deputies of the left alliance. Her name is Hanna Sarkkanen and she is 25 and studies history among other things. Can't help but wonder could this ever be possible in Portugal? So far looking into the upcoming election ads; I have seen one woman campaigning but no one under the age of 30. After knowing several political science students in portugal, can't help but question why doesn't "local grass root" political structure acknowledge the benefits of young political input in Portugal?
Why can’t youth influence boldly enter into local politics? I have asked this from many local politicians and their answer would always come around “It is hard to recruit young people to take part.” Ironically, I find that hard to believe. I’m studying political science in a university in Porto, thus I’m constantly meeting young new highly educated people who are keen on politics and desire to debate the future of the country. So I am asking again why wouldn’t any Political party want to refresh their imagine and implement some new “know-how” and get on with it?
Oh and yes... then I’m sure you are asking now...but what about the lists? For those who don’t know; In Portugal if one desires to proceed with a political career, obviously you then recommendably choose a party but in order to become a candidate you have a sign in for a listing, processing from first to last. And in every election who gets in is the one fist after being listed on the list the longest. Thus, you do not vote for a person per se, you vote a political party who then let their longest on the list to enter when and if they gain a seat. The irony of questioned democracy in this system is almost amusing and a whole other topic itself. But coming back to our topic of the day; in municipal election however, it is the parties amongst themselves who decide who goes ahead a serious candidate. Not the lists, moreover the influence can the excluded.
To be honest, I have done research and if I could vote on the upcoming municipal elections; I would struggle immensely to find my candidate for the obvious reason,- I have no one to relate to nor to advocate my ideals.
