Brave new ideas for a different Portugal

What’s the main theme behind your book and why did you decide to write it?

Marco Dias: It’s the natural consequence of all the hypocrisy that’s in the air. Hypocrisy is nothing new in politics, but now, everything else seems to have been tainted by it. Talking things out with family, friends and colleagues isn’t enough to ease my conscience anymore. I decided to take the plunge and share some examples, some personal opinions, ideas and theories on politics, justice and the economy. Whether the book’s a success or not is immaterial. I wrote it as (an excellent) form of therapy in these difficult times.

Did you have a target audience in mind?

Firstly, I wanted to reach the people who are fed up with everything, and show a real desire everyday to promote the changes that our country so badly needs. These “fed up” people are the ones waving their arms in the air – the people with no future in sight, and nothing to lose. With this book, I basically became an official member of their group - and showed some of my ideas in the hope that others with follow. I’ve done everything I can to seriously provoke all the people who are trying to stand in the way of the changes that have to come.

You’ve found an original way to publicise your book – by using the commentary slots given by national newspapers on their online news pages. How has it worked?

Basically this form of publicity only gets people to visit the site: 100editora – but I have to say it has worked very well. The “author’s message” and the “introduction” of the book are freely available and have resulted in lots of comments.

Can you put your proposals in a nutshell?

They’re very simple. Change! And I don’t mean that well-worn cliché about changing our mentalities. I am talking about establishing a truly representative form of democracy – as well as an efficient, impartial, universal justice system. This is because all the other changes have to stem from these two “revolutions”.

Why don’t you send a copy of your book to all politicians in Parliament?

Good question. Perhaps I don’t because I am worried of being exiled…

Politicians don’t come from another country. They’re Portuguese. Do you think that means there’s something (very) wrong with us, as a people and a society?

Probably a lot of honest, well-meaning Portuguese ask themselves that everyday. I’m not judging the choices people make for themselves - but collectively, it does seem that yes, we are failing.

In my opinion this is happening because we have leaders who are incapable of leading, and simply pursue their own ends. They are not motivated by the need to do good for society in general and worse. They serve as role models and justification for others who practice everything that’s wrong.

As a writer, have you ever been “afraid” to poke your finger at the system?

No. My greatest fear is about what kind of society my daughter will be growing up into. Does your question come from the fact that I haven’t featured a full-face photo of myself in the book? I did that to symbolise the fear that many Portuguese have in taking any form of action.

You refer in the book to many examples of corruption, nepotism, the misuse of public funds. Some of the stories are even in the public domain. Why do you think we haven’t seen a public revolt by now?

Essentially for two reasons: Firstly, because there are a lot more people living comfortably within the flawed system than we can imagine. Corruption, favours, bribes, nepotism – they’re all accepted forms of behaviour for many people. Secondly, those who do not form part of the privileged elite have a natural fear of exposing it because they’re concerned for their safety and the little that they may have in life to call their own.

You defend an end to “partidocracia” (power of the political ruling parties as the only possible choice). But what’s the alternative?

Alternative? Democracy, of course! People should be able to choose the prime minister they want, the members of government that they think fit to govern, the deputies in Parliament, as well as those who run this country’s main regulating bodies.

From what I’ve read so far, you think the President of the Republic should have intervened more often. Why do you think he didn’t?

If we asked him this to his face, do you think he’d answer? I bet there will never be the “appropriate time” for him to pronounce on this question. He rarely finds a convenient moment to answer questions … unless of course, there’s an election on.

Social upheaval is already happening. Not just in the streets, but through technology. Do you think this will prompt a change, soon?

I sincerely hope that technological progress will prompt much more than simply social change. It should be designed to develop interactive tools so that people can participate in (re)building democracy – creating popular referendums, for example, which have been so rarely used up till now.

Do you think politicians are conscious of what’s going on, on facebook, for example? The last speech by Passos Coelho resulted in a flurry of virtual reactions...

Then I guess they’re all virtually very worried…

Do you really think it’s possible to end corruption in Portugal?

No. Without sweeping change in our democratic model, and without radical reform of our justice system, it’ll never happen. There’s no pressure for it to happen, either.

How do you see the future of our country?

I cannot tell you that. I have severe limitations when it comes to prophecy – unlike some people who can tell you with certainty where we’ll be in ten years time. I simply fear that without radical change, things will only get worse. My faith rests in the possibility that the Portuguese people will, in some form or other, pull off this “revolution” in the near future – the development of a political regime focused on satisfying popular interests, promoting justice and developing the socio-economic potential of our country.

What’s your next project?

I have three. The first is still this book - as it has to grow legs and walk. It’s being launched through traditional channels within the next month. The second will be the creation of an online civic information portal, through which, with the help of many other people, we’ll be able to try and create an alternative model for democratic representation.

I want to start it as a kind of rehearsal and then refine it over the next two years. And the third is a new book in which I’ll try and explain how to apply the ideas and general methods suggested in the first book – comparing each one to the ways things work right now, and analysing recent history.