“Portuguese electoral laws are outdated and urgently need to be changed to bring them into line with modern times,” argues the association in a statement on the participation of Portuguese communities in the 18 January elections.
Even so, the movement recognises the increase in the number of votes cast, which registered 72,756 votes, double the number counted in Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s re-election in 2021 (29,153).
“Once again, it has been confirmed that in-person voting alone does not serve Portuguese citizens abroad. The only alternative is digital voting (remote electronic voting),” continues the association, which promises to do everything in its power to ensure that digital voting abroad is adopted during the current legislative term.
Regarding the voting patterns of the majority of Portuguese citizens living abroad in this presidential election – 40.93% voted for André Ventura and 23.69% voted for António José Seguro – the We are also Portuguese association considers that this “should give the Government, parliament and society in general much food for thought, and should also be interpreted as a clear sign of discontent”.
He listed the main problems facing Portuguese communities: insufficient teaching of the Portuguese language, distant and expensive consular services, double taxation of pensioners, insufficient support for pensioners who wish to return to Portugal or who remain there for long periods, particularly access to health centres, as well as obstacles to exercising the right to vote.
“All these problems require vigorous measures that are slow in coming,” he said, adding that “Portuguese citizens living abroad are not only concerned about their own problems, but also those affecting their families and communities of origin in Portugal.”
António José Seguro and André Ventura will contest the second round of the presidential elections on 8 February, after the Socialist Party (PS)-backed candidate won 31.12% of the votes on 18 January and Ventura, leader of the far-right Chega Party, obtained 23.52%.
Portuguese citizens living abroad will be able to exercise their right to vote on 7 and 8 February for the second round of these elections, but they will only be able to do so in person, which presents additional difficulties given the long distances they have to travel in some cases.
According to an official source from the National Election Commission (CNE), new ballot papers will be distributed, but some emigrants may have to use the ballot papers from the first round if the new ones do not arrive in time.
