For a long time, talking about reforms in Portugal was an exercise in political heresy. Anyone who dared to suggest structural changes in the functioning of the State, the economy or institutions was received with a mix of distrust, prudence and an argument that has become classic in our public life: “This is not the time.”
However, the years passed, the problems remained and accumulated. Political calculation and the fear of losing the next elections gave way to the logic of “the next person decides”, which marked too many political decisions.
Therefore, the emergence of the Liberal Initiative was decisive in introducing the reformist agenda into Portuguese politics and opening space for the need for structural reforms to occupy a central place in the public debate.
Suddenly, everyone seems to recognize that the country needs to change. Well, this is where the problem lies, because if so many have already been diagnosed, practically no one has the political courage to act accordingly. Political courage that they lack because they have no will and, without it, it is not clear what they want. The countless plans and announcements with which we are inundated are proof of this. Your lack of capacity.
Portugal needs will, clarity of ideas and courage to act. Because the country does not lack talent, ambition and capacity. We see this gap of wills that separates citizens from rulers when qualified young people need to look for opportunities abroad to build the life they would like to have here. When those who want to invest encounter a labyrinth of bureaucracy and give up. When working harder or taking more risks is often unrewarding.
But this is not just a diagnosis of what is wrong. It is, above all, a conversation about what can and should be done better.
Reforming is not destroying. It’s improving. It means looking at institutions, their functioning, public policies, established rules and asking, without fear: does this still serve people? Are you helping the country move forward?
We need an agile State that focuses on the essentials and functions well. We need a more open economy, which values merit, innovation and work. We need a more diversified economy, not so focused on tourism and restaurants. Now, this can only be achieved with more economic freedom and tax, labor, rent and justice reforms. Changes so that we once again believe that Portugal can be a country where it is worth taking risks, creating and building a future.
This is the political debate in IL that does not fuel pessimism, but is the result of those who travel the country and come across another reality. A Portugal made up of entrepreneurs who don’t give up, workers who want to do more and young people full of new ideas.
Portugal has long been accustomed to less than it deserves. Portugal does not need to resign itself. You can and should aim for more.
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