In local elections, do we vote for the past or the future?

Historically, local elections are key moments for citizens to participate in the democratic process in their territories. However, an inevitable question arises, especially during this period: when choosing who will govern, do we look backward or forward? The answer is relatively clear: we do both simultaneously, although not always consciously.

On the one hand, voting can be retrospective, as we carry with us the memory of what was (or wasn't) accomplished during the term. Was useful infrastructure created? Were public services improved? Were the population's most immediate needs met? The weight of the past leads us, as (minimally) rational voters, to reward or penalize those in power. In this sense, if the incumbents' performance was considered positive, they tend to be reappointed; if it fell short of expectations, room for change opens up. On the other hand, voting can also be prospective when we project expectations and choose the party/candidate we believe can contribute to a better future for our territory.

Fragile strategies

Over the past 51 years of democracy in Portugal, local government has played a central role in the functioning of the political system, constituting one of the most important decision-making levels in terms of proximity to citizens, the provision of public services, popular engagement, and the implementation of public policies. However, despite progress, the implementation of concrete sustainable development strategies remains fragile in many Portuguese municipalities, even after the UN 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals established a path for several countries at various institutional and territorial levels ten years ago.

Therefore, it is urgent to continue talking about sustainable development. It is urgent to abandon abstract promises, green slogans, or utopian campaigns. What is urgent is a joint and broad will to act locally to face the challenges that (for too long) have been at our doorstep and that compromise our security: the forest fires that recur every summer, the floods that destroy homes and amenities, the lack of affordable housing in cities, the aging and desertification in many inland territories, the poverty that marks the lives of thousands of people, among many others.

Broader commitments

Local authorities need to align with broader commitments, such as the European Green Deal, Portugal 2030, the Recovery and Resilience Plan, and the European Union's climate targets. The future of (Portuguese) territories increasingly depends on the ability to articulate local aspirations and needs (especially in crucial areas such as education, health, mobility, housing, energy, etc.) with "global interdependencies." These interdependencies are part of the complex interplay of economic, social, environmental, and political systems that constitute sustainable development. Therefore, because Portugal is not isolated, it is necessary to look at the "whole" and not just a "part" of the system and recognize human pressure on the Earth System, which has geochemical and physical limits and obeys natural laws.

Faced with a somewhat uncertain future, voting is much more than rewarding or penalizing those who have governed. It's choosing those with the vision, courage, strategy, and responsibility to prepare for the present and the future. Those who seek to provide new responses to various challenges. Those who prioritize and invest in prevention and the structural transformation of the territory and people's lives. Those who understand that protecting the Earth System means protecting the economy, communities, and everything that sustains them. Those who respect the geological time of our planet and not just the brief span of governance. Those who encourage participation in the life of the polis, because local democracy doesn't end with the act of voting: it extends into civic life every day.

Beginning of a new era?

Perhaps, on October 12, 2025, the question to ask isn't simply "do we vote for the past or the future?" Perhaps the more relevant question is whether we are prepared to demand from our leaders a clear and consistent commitment to sustainable (local) development—understood not as a political fad, but as a condition for survival, "living well within the limits of the planet."

If the answer is "not yet," then we must admit that we will remain trapped in the short-term cycle of memories, promises, and a lot of shortsightedness. But if it's "yes," the 2025 local elections could mark the beginning of a new era for the planning and development of our territories.

The texts in this section reflect the authors' personal opinions. They do not represent VISÃO nor reflect its editorial position.