Reform the State? Of course…

The word "reform" is in vogue. It always looks good. State reform, administrative reform, modernization, digitalization... it sounds serious, technical, and forward-thinking. But between us: how many times have we heard this?

Now we have an AD government that promises us that this is the way to go. That they will simplify, merge agencies, cut bureaucracy, reward merit, and end the culture of cronyism. It all looks great on paper.

But the reality is different. Portugal continues to have an obese, slow-moving state dominated by vested interests. A state where many services operate as if it were still 1995, and where much of the machinery serves more to secure positions than to serve the citizen.

Seriously reforming the State requires unpopular cuts, difficult decisions, and political confrontations that no government enjoys. It involves eliminating shell institutions, limiting party appointments, evaluating who works and who doesn't, and, above all, breaking with the "it's always been this way" mindset that dominates Portuguese public administration.

The question is: is this government willing to do that? Frankly, I doubt it. The PSD has had several opportunities to lead structural reforms, but in practice, it has almost always ended up postponing, softening, or backtracking. There's been a lot of talk about efficiency, but little action on what really needs to be done.

And this isn't about attacking the State. Quite the opposite. Anyone who studies public administration and believes in the value of public service knows that a functional State is essential. But to function, it must be well-managed, well-evaluated, and, above all, it must have a culture of accountability. Without this, we'll just be painting the walls of a crumbling building.

Reforming the state is urgent. But to do so, courage is required. And unfortunately, courage is rare in Portuguese politics. Especially when it can cost votes.