This March 10th 2024, we will have elections for the Portuguese Republic Assembly members. And as with any election, this means there are lots of political canvassing adverts all over the country. So I thought for the second “What does it mean? #2” post, I’d go over some of them with you. And because this is a language learning platform, I’ve blurred out which political parties these adverts belong to. You can also watch the video with some examples in this lesson!
Social Priorities and Housing
- “Pela habitação, não lhes dês descanso“
This one translates to: for housing, don’t give them a break or don’t give them (those in power) any rest.
- “Mais ação. Por um Portugal inteiro“
And this one means: “More action. For a whole Portugal / for all of Portugal”
- “A mudança está nas tuas mãos“
This one has a few sentences. Let’s start with the left side: “Mudança segura” (Safe change) and “programa eleitoral” (electoral program)
Then on the right we have: “vê o programa eleitoral completo e conhece as nossas propostas” (see/check out the full electoral program and become familiar with our proposals)
And finally: “A mudança está nas tuas mãos” (change is in your hands)
- “Estabilidade e Ação“
This one is very straightforward: “Stability and action”
Social Injustices and Life Changes
- “Basta de Injustiças! Mais (party), vida melhor!“
Here we have: “Enough injustices! More of (party), better life”
- “Dêem-me uma oportunidade para limpar Portugal“
This one has a request: “Give me a chance/opportunity to clean up Portugal”
- “#vergonha Portugal precisa duma limpeza“
Hastag shame. Portugal needs a clean!
- “Pagamos tantos impostos para sustentar a corrupção“
This one translates to: “We pay so many taxes to sustain/support corruption”
Valuing Portuguese Workers and Labour Policies
- “Valorizar o trabalho e os trabalhadores portugueses. É hora. Dá mais força à (party)”
In this picture, we have a march with a banner saying: “Value work/labour and the workers. It’s time. More strength to (party)”.
Fighting Corruption and Political Reform
- “Vamos acabar com a corrupção e os tachos em Portugal“
From a linguistic point of view, I think this one is very interesting.
If you know the Portuguese idiomatic expression “ter um tacho” or “arranjar tachos” referenced, this should be easier to understand. Tacho means pot or pan, but in this sense, it means cronyism. In other words, it’s said that someone who gets an easy and very well-paid job through favouritism or in-group means is said to have gotten themselves a nice “tacho”.
So this one translates to “Let’s end the corruption and cronyism in Portugal”
- “É dia 10. É para mudar“
This one mentions the date (1.03.2024 – election day) and implies that«’s the date to change things.
“It’s the 10th. It’s for change”
- “Fazer o que nunca foi feito“
The translation for this is: “to do what’s never been done”
Promoting Animal Rights and Cultural Criticism
- “Touradas, só na cama. E com consentimento“
This one is against bullfighting (touradas) and makes a humorous twist referencing intimacy and consent. So “bullfighting, only in bed, and with consent”.
- “o voto que cuida das pessoas, o voto que defende os animais, o voto que protege a natureza“
The vote that cares for people, the vote that defends animals, the vote that protects nature #heading for the parliamentary group
That’s all I have today for this What does it mean? #2. The first one is here. Let me know which one was your favourite.