Between social crisis and populism, what remains of 25 April in Portugal?
Original text from Executive Digest
On 25 April 2026, Executive Digest published an interview with political scientist Patrícia Calca, a researcher at CIES-Iscte, on the legacy of 25 April in a context marked by labour protests, pressure on wages and the cost of living, and a political climate that has shifted to the right and become more focused on security.
The researcher stresses the importance of historical memory at a time of global democratic backsliding and rising inequality. She points to young people’s detachment from politics, warns that disinformation can fuel a dangerous historical relativism, and notes that the far right has managed to mobilise voters who would not usually vote by tapping into economic dissatisfaction.
Patrícia Calca also warns of the risk of institutional erosion when political negotiation disappears and argues for better political leadership. She concludes that the values of April endure, but that preserving them depends on our collective capacity to do so.
Read the full interview in Executive Digest.