To our dear André,

André Freire, in addition to being a brilliant scholar and leaving an indelible legacy in Portuguese political science, stood out for the knowledge he shared with generations of students and researchers. We had the pleasure of sharing moments of intense interaction and affection with him at the Observatory of Democracy and Political Representation.

Since the formal launch of the Observatory in 2019, André worked tirelessly to establish it as a platform for sharing knowledge with the community, particularly in the field of studies on democratic political representation. He guided us in conducting surveys of elected and non-elected deputies regarding the legislative elections of 2019 and 2022, and he initiated the 2024 edition. Together, we also published the book “From Austerity to the Pandemic” and the report “State of Democracy in the World 2022.”

With André, we shared not only the workspace but also the streets and moments of fun. Last Saturday (October 26), he was among thousands of people at the demonstration against racism and police violence, honoring Odair Moniz, with him carrying symbols calling for a free Palestine. André was a defender of just causes. During our shared dinners, we talked about music, literature, and cinema; his easy laughter and contagious chuckle filled any space. He was intense and a natural provocateur, rejecting any form of censorship or authoritarianism, and he had no patience for false moralism.

For us, there remains a deep sense of longing and sadness at the loss of a friend, but also the joy of the wonderful memories and the lessons he left us.

With affection,

The Team at the Observatory of Democracy and Political Representation