“We have a goal which is electronic voting. Voting should not be complicated, nor is it acceptable for people to vote and then for many of those votes to be null, or for some ballots to be returned,” stated José Manuel Fernandes in London, where he is campaigning.
The demand for electronic voting has been raised by the Council of Portuguese Communities (CCP) to mitigate challenges associated with postal and in-person voting.
A resolution proposed by the PSD to conduct a trial for electronic voting among emigrants was approved in February, facing opposition from the PS, the Left Bloc, and the PCP, with PAN abstaining.
Fernandes, who is currently the Minister of Agriculture, believes this voting method will increase participation and also supports the notion of increasing the number of deputies.
For the upcoming early elections on May 18, a total of 947,984 voters are registered from the European constituency. However, in the previous 2024 legislative elections, there was a 74.5% abstention rate in the same constituency.
Approximately 40% of the votes were voided, primarily due to issues with the photocopy of the required identification document.
“Many people cite the low participation rates to argue that representation is adequate. It’s clear that, with facilitated participation, there will be massive voting and a fair claim for greater representation,” he added.
According to Fernandes, doubling the number of deputies from two to four is considered an acceptable figure.
This measure will necessitate a constitutional revision requiring a two-thirds majority in the Assembly of the Republic, something he finds “possible,” but which will need consensus with the opposition.
Another proposal from the AD – PSD/CDS Coalition is offering tax benefits for retired Portuguese citizens who wish to return to Portugal and settle in less populated regions.
The “Programa Vem” aims to ensure tax rates equivalent to the host countries so that emigrants receive the same retirement pension value if they relocate to Portugal.
This new program draws inspiration from the Regressar Program, which does not cover retirees.
“The principle is that a retiree should not receive less than they currently do,” he explained, suggesting an “increase” for those settling in “low-density territories” to combat the desertification of Portugal’s interior.
José Manuel Fernandes argues that the reduction in income taxes for retired emigrants can be offset by increased spending on services within the country and higher tax revenues like VAT.
According to the head of the AD list, another priority for the communities is enhancing Portuguese language education abroad by hiring more teachers, who should benefit from salary updates.
Additionally, he advocates for investment in online education and certification in this format to attract more students.
“We have the potential to be much more comprehensive, to promote the language, and show that it is an asset,” he emphasized.
The politician acknowledged the use of artificial intelligence but assured that “it cannot and will never replace the guidance of a teacher.”
The modernization of consulates and support for associations, particularly in social and youth components, are other priorities.
Carlos Gonçalves, a former Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, Paula Silva, and Carina Gaspar are also running on the AD list for the European constituency.
The challenge for AD is to regain representation in the European constituency, as in 2024, a deputy from PS and another from Chega were elected.
