A portrait of Portugal

Barry Hatton was born in Doncaster in 1963. He studied Germanic languages at King’s College, London and, in the middle of the 80s – with high unemployment in the UK spelling little chance of work for an aspiring journalist – he arrived in Lisbon, with a friend, looking for adventure.

The first thing that hit him, he recalls, was culture shock: he’d left behind a post-modern London at the height of the punk era to discover a very conservative capital city where time apparently stood still.

But he chose to stay and make his family here (a Portuguese wife and three daughters). He now considers himself Portuguese “from the neck downwards” but although he’s lived in Portugal longer than in his own country, he still finds certain cultural idiosyncrasies hard to take.

Over the years Barry Hatton has worked as a reporter on the now extinct Anglo-Portuguese News, and since 1997 he has been a correspondent for Associated Press – writing stories on politics, the economy and sport in Portugal. He’s also co-written, with Luísa Beltrão, a biography on Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo – the first woman to become prime minister in Portugal.

vivalgarve: You’ve lived in Portugal for more than 25 years. Has this made you a better or worse person?

Barry Hatton: Perhaps that’s a question for other people to answer! But what I can say is that Portugal has given me happiness and allowed me to realise my ambitions in life.

Compared to other European countries, Portugal isn’t really that well-known. When you have to describe our country, how do you begin?

Like with any country, a correspondent has to put things into context and explain why a story is important and relevant to people elsewhere. Portugal needs more background explanation, precisely for the reasons that you state in your question.

Every time European statistics are published (social, economic, financial, etc.). Portugal appears to lead the way for the “worst aspects”. Do you think this is our culture, or our curse?

It’s the result of Portugal’s history, it’s its way of dealing with life. Somebody once said that Portugal has been talking about making reforms for 800 years. That’s the problem! But we should resist the temptation of blaming things that aren’t concrete, superstitions.

But despite what you’ve said, you decided to write this book. Why? What’s your motivation?

I wanted to show to other people a country that I think very highly of – one I consider very worthy. For me, Portugal is a great country with great people (even if they don’t believe it themselves). I wanted to show why I think this.

You wrote the book in Engish, and it has been published in the UK and USA. What have people thought about it? Have you had any feedback?

So far, so good. Feedback has been positive.

Is it a critique, or meant simply to be informative?

I set out to paint a portrait of the country, describing it, explaining things in an entertaining and informative way. I haven’t judged it, in a critical sense. All countries have their strong and weak points.

You’re a journalist, currently reporting for AP. Is Portugal an interesting country for foreign media? Or is it only newsworthy because of the crisis?

There hasn’t been so much written about Portugal since the 1974 Revolution! That was the last time that Portugal, because of the possibility of a communist regime, threatened the well-being of Europe. Normally, it’s a struggle to get Portugal noticed. It has very little economic power and, consequently, little diplomatic importance. It’s far from the key centres of decision-making.

How do you see Portuguese society today? Particularly the extremes: the young and the elderly?

Life is difficult for everybody – especially the most vulnerable. Portugal is at a crossroads and has to decide which way it wants to go.

I know that you like the “incredible capacity for improvisation” that we Portuguese have. What else do you like?

The ability to adapt, flexibility, courage, resilience, and the kindness.

But it’s well known that you don’t like the way Portuguese behave behind the wheel! What else don’t you like?

I don’t like their passivity when it comes to things that are plainly unacceptable, on all levels. The time has come not just to talk about rights, but about duties: for example, the duty to be a good citizen, a good worker, a good student, and so forth.

And what do you say about national bureaucracy?

It’s one of the many obstacles that have to be removed.

I read somewhere a while ago that it’s not Portugal that needs saving, but the Portuguese that need rescuing from it. Do you agree?

No, I don’t. The new approach has to come from the bottom up. In other words, the Portuguese have it in their power to change. The question is, do they want to?

What do you think about our politicians?

I have to maintain my impartiality, but everyone has to change.

Do you think our system is truly democratic?

The system is, but the Portuguese don’t embrace the democratic way of life. Democracy isn’t simply about casting your vote every now and then.

We do have our national treasures: our fish, wine, olive oil. But none of them get much international projection. What’s missing?

Portuguese marketing has always been poor. They don’t know how to sell their products – it’s also a question of scale.

We have sunshine, a country of contrasts. What else do the Portuguese need?

They need to change their attitude while there’s still time. They need to find sources of wealth and generate that wealth. But they shouldn’t loose their love of life along the way…

Your book gives the history of this country. From your own point of view, what episode in history fascinates you most?

It’s difficult to choose among so many episodes – so many of them ruinous. Perhaps the earthquake of 1755.

One last question – in light of your experience, what future do you see for Portugal and the Portuguese?

I have hope and faith in the Portuguese people, even though I know that few (Portuguese) agree with me!

Thank you for the interview!

Thank you for your interest!