We are at the beginning of a new era in Portugal, as I have predicted in my recent writings in this space. In addition to the country’s shift in stance, which is now almost entirely focused on extreme right-wing or far-right ideology, we are living in uncertain times about the very nature of our reality. We are inundated with constant propaganda, disseminated by the regime’s influencers and influenced by the major economic powers. Violent discussions have become the norm, often ending with someone permanently upset with another person. We are growing toward the darkness from which we once rose with revolution and humanism.

Therefore, there is nothing better than to start preparing the campaign for a future presidential leadership by a military man. It is, at least, quite consistent with the country we have. Contrary to the narrative that has spread across social media and paid commentary programs, our country has never been particularly happy when we have had military presidents. Eanes, the one who leaves the strongest impression on the Portuguese, was responsible for truly worrying measures, which only failed to continue because the rise of his Renovator Party was duly halted by the other Portuguese democratic forces. There will be time to write about Ramalho Eanes and his comparisons to Gouveia and Melo, perhaps closer to the presidential elections. This text is about the famous Admiral, but it is still only a timely warning cry and an initial appeal to common sense.

Let’s see. The media in Portugal have done everything to establish André Ventura as the future new prime minister. At the forefront of this campaign was CMTV, which has since been overtaken by TVI/CNN, which keeps a close eye on the beloved leader, leading us to believe that the program “Na Casa do Mestre André” (At the House of Master André) will soon debut, in a format copied from the now legendary Casa do Toy. The quality will certainly be worse.

It is also TVI/CNN that is working hard on the Gouveia e Melo campaign, without any attempt to hide its intentions. Just like in the United States, months before Trump’s return, the very rich here have also lost their shame. That’s what happens when we blindly give them our votes.

TVI/CNN is owned by the Media Capital group, where the grand commander of national media, Mário Ferreira, reigns supreme. He is an astronaut by day and a winemaker in his spare time, and is being groomed to be the next Cardinal Richelieu. He is one of the major financiers of the new political reality in Portugal, while at the same time being ironically and recently accused of fraud. You may not remember that this happened in April this year, because if you were watching the news on TVI or CNN, you would have learned little or nothing about it. It is the Fox News model, perfectly replicated on one of the most-watched channels in our country.

Mário Ferreira has been appearing at the main campaign events of the Admiral’s campaign. He is there to hand him flowers and applaud him. He appears behind the haughty military man, who only left his uniform at home because his advisors told him it would look bad. I imagine that on the day he is elected, he will wear it. And he will decorate Mário Ferreira for his valuable services to the nation, at least to his country.

Thanks to the image makeover that Ferreira has promoted and ordered, Gouveia e Melo appears resplendent, returning from a spiritual retreat where he had been attacked by everyone and everything. For him, it was important to wait until the election results were in. He claims to be a centrist, but in every respect, he aligns with André Ventura, even in his choice of media godfathers, such as the Media Capital group.

In addition, he is also a supporter of Miguel Milhão, declaring himself “in favor of life” when it comes to issues of voluntary termination of pregnancy (IVG) and against “euthanasia or assisted suicide or whatever you want to call it.” I am not going to waste my time trying to explain to a privileged man, clearly from another time and with different morals, the importance of legalizing IVG, much less distinguish between euthanasia and assisted suicide, or populist stupidity. Gouveia e Melo knows what he is doing when he speaks. And he appears alongside young people, very young people, who listen to Milhão and other influencers. The Admiral is not stupid. He is, above all, a real danger, joining the dozens of fascist-minded deputies who were democratically elected.

To end this inaugural campaign party, the military man chose Rui Rio to stand beside him. The popular politician, who is anything but social and rarely democratic, was selected for his centrist characteristics, according to Gouveia e Melo’s campaign team. What these qualities might be, we are left wondering. We can only imagine that, just as Mário Ferreira and Milhão are there to please the old guard, Rio is also there to make peace with the orange-clad supporters who do not want to vote for Marques Mendes. Everything seems to have been well thought out and orchestrated.

There is still a considerable amount of time to go, and there are few doubts about the likely victory of Gouveia and Melo. The web has been well woven. Not for lack of warning, of course. Just as Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s career has mirrored a tragicomic country, the Admiral’s presidency will reflect a Portugal on the brink of the abyss, capable of anything to survive, except doing anything positive for those who need it most. For my part, I have no doubt that I will not vote for him.

Alexandra Manes is from Flores Island but lives on the island of Terceira in the Azores. She is a regular contributing writer for several Azorean newspapers, a political and cultural activist, and has served in the Azorean Parliament.

NOVIDADES will feature occasional opinion pieces from various leading thinkers and writers in the Azores, providing the diaspora and those interested in the current state of the Azores with insight into the diverse opinions on some of the archipelago’s key issues.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL).