In the first legislative elections after April 25th, 91% of voters turned out, with an abstention rate of only 9%. We are still far from this reality of near-total population mobilization for democratic participation. Social media has given every Portuguese citizen a megaphone, but it has also contributed to emptying the spaces of formal participation. Most Municipal Assemblies, Parish Assemblies, and Municipal Youth Councils are bereft of attentive and intense citizen participation.

Portugal is one of three Western European countries classified as a “flawed democracy” in the 2023 Democracy Index. Restoring trust and a healthy relationship with institutions is a critical challenge for the coming years in Portugal.

For many, democratic participation is still exhausted by voting. Voting is an act of civic responsibility, but it is also dangerously comfortable: what lies beyond the vote is no longer our concern, and we delegate our civic responsibility.

Representative democracy is not enough, and this is where participatory democracy comes in. The “deepening of participatory democracy” appears right in Article 2 of the Constitution, but it risks becoming mere words as we grow accustomed to the comfort of a representative system. To avoid this, we need inclusive participation spaces aligned with people’s needs, prioritizing direct and consequential democratic participation.

At MyPolis, we see participatory democracy as a natural extension of the spirit of April, a way to keep the flame of the revolution alive and ensure that the ideals of freedom, justice, and equality remain vibrant in our society. That’s why we’ve joined the 50th Anniversary Commission of April 25th for a celebration of participatory democracy across the country. Participatory democracy is coming to various parts of the country through the efforts of MyPolis and the 50th Anniversary Commission of April 25th.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the revolution, we will have 50 Assemblies of Social Transformers in 40 Portuguese territories, from Loulé to Braga, including Ponta Delgada and Funchal. These Assemblies provide a space for sharing, building, and collaborating to transform common territory. It’s an environment that invites participants—students, teachers, local associations, and political representatives—to critically examine their territory and create or disseminate innovative solutions that involve the active participation of everyone involved. MyPolis uses gamification to make these spaces more dynamic and engaging for children and young people. Who said Democracy can’t be fun? Playing at the Assemblies of Social Transformers.

To date, MyPolis has engaged over 35,000 participants and implemented more than 200 proposals in collaboration between young people and local authorities in Portugal, and we are already replicating this methodology in other European countries.

In each of these territories, we implement educational programs that teach children and young people how to participate. The board game for elementary school students “Exploradores da Cidadania,” the digital democratic literacy game “Mansão Civitas,” and electoral simulations in schools are some examples. Among other results, we have observed a 46% increase in students’ sense of responsibility for their territory and a 59% increase in knowledge about participation channels.

On April 25th, we celebrated together, but we know our democracy has much room to grow.

Bernardo Branco Gonçalves, Founder and CEO of MyPolis

Note from Inês Sequeira, Founder and Director of Casa do Impacto: “Let us not rely on the certainty that freedom is a given because, even today, it still has to be fought for. April must continue to be remembered, and we must actively continue to fulfill its promise. At Casa do Impacto, we do this work daily by promoting and democratizing Impact through projects and solutions that make society more just, equitable, diverse, and sustainable, and thus always freer. The work that MyPolis does invites young people to perpetuate the values of April from a very early age, in an increasingly active and informed manner, fostering a critical spirit that enables them to engage more closely and personally with political decision-making bodies.”

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