Anabela Morais was born in 1974 in France, having come to live in Portugal (Ribatejo) in 1985. At the age of 13, she went to Margem Sul, near Lisbon, where she studied and graduated in Psychology at ISCTE, in 2000. She currently lives in Portimão.
Claiming to be a “woman, wife, mother”, she guarantees that “she never gives up on social injustice and fights for truth, freedom, combating social discrimination”.
She works as a Clinical Psychologist in her private practice and says she believes that «silence complies with evil». Anabela Morais is the head of the list of the National Democratic Alternative (ADN) to the Legislative Elections, for the Algarve circle.
Now that the election campaign is underway, the Sul Informação is publishing interviews with the list leaders of the 14 parties or coalitions that are running for the Legislatures on March 10th.
The same questions were sent, in a timely manner, to all 15 first candidates, covering the main themes in focus in the Algarve.
The interviews will be published as responses reach our newsroom.
Sul Informação – What are the priorities of your political force in the next legislature for the Algarve?
Anabela Morais – The priority is to improve the lives of those who live in the Algarve.
To do this, we have to change the focus of our economy, rehabilitating the industry, agriculture and commerce that existed in the Algarve, so that we stop being so dependent on tourism, which makes the region vulnerable to seasonal fluctuations and global economic crises.
We want to combat social inequalities, namely income disparities between local residents and seasonal migrant workers. These disparities can lead to social tensions and problems with community cohesion.
Dependence on tourism results in pressure on the property market, leading to rising property prices and property speculation. This makes housing unaffordable for local residents and has contributed to problems with gentrification and a lack of affordable housing.
During peak tourist periods, the Algarve faces traffic congestion, lack of parking and pressure on public transport services. The existing infrastructure remains inadequate to handle the volume of visitors, leading to inconvenience for residents and tourists.
SI – What led you to accept being head of the list for the party you represent?
AM – I accepted because ADN is the only humanist party that goes beyond the old and obsolete right and left dichotomy. I am a humanist, I believe in Governance by honor (timocracy) and by the people (democracy).
Given what has happened since 2020, where I saw and saw all our rights, freedoms and guarantees being clearly violated by our Government, which attacked article 27 of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, with 15 unconstitutional confinements, leading to a visible and unfortunate collapse of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, annihilating our local and national economy, causing a worsening of mental illness in all age groups, increasing suicide and violence in families, because “where there is no bread, everyone scolds and no one is right”, the school performance has fallen seriously, the censorship that has taken place (in the media, on social networks, in society in general) towards those who do not follow the official narrative, attacking our freedom of expression and democracy, the coercion that has been exercised against all citizens to inoculate themselves with a liquid substance that today we all realize is a new injectable therapy that is neither safe nor effective, just look at the unfortunate mortality figures that have been seen in Portugal since 2022, so I found myself forced by force of circumstances, which prove to be very difficult, to act as an active citizen, thus trying to have a voice to give a voice to all Portuguese who feel highly aggrieved in this country, which well before 2020 revealed itself to be a nation without sovereignty and without conditions to evolve at an economic and social level.
Despite being aware that there is a hyper negative view of the role of a politician in Portugal and in the world, I embraced this, which I consider to be a civic cause with great personal and social responsibility.
Despite my awareness, I am rolling up my sleeves, because someone has to step up and try not to be like those who are harming us.
I have always thought that, if good people stay away from politics, then we are giving total space to evildoers and corrupt people to have a free path to act.
A politician must serve his people in an honorable and honest way, always doing everything so that the truth is a reality and good prevails, and never take advantage of people, using tax money for his own benefit or to benefit businessman friends or entities that bring benefit to themselves and not to the community.
This is called me fighting cronyism. I know that I am accepting a challenge in which I place myself as an easy target for attack.
I have a lot to listen to and learn from people who need real change, and listen to those who trust me and through the ADN party, to really help make our country and the Algarve region much better than it is.
But what you don't know, with humility and active listening, you learn. I have good will, I also have honesty and loyalty to good principles.
Now you have to talk to me and tell me what you most need, because what I don't know I can't guess. Therefore, I am always open to dialogue.
I know that having the title of politician does not bring us friends, on the contrary, even those we thought we had as friends turn out to be not very supportive.
There is something like an automatic repellent that arises when we assume that we want to help others in our role as a politician. We are much more accepted if we have the role of missionaries, food bank volunteers or nuns.
But I have a motto: do good, without looking at who. And so I live. And we know well that, where the majority is, there is the error, so, even though I am in a small party, without a parliamentary seat, I know that I am surrounded by a team of colleagues in the areas of medicine, legal and economics who can always help me help to better understand what really needs to be changed and thus achieve what we all want to do best for the Algarve and Portugal.
I am a volunteer in politics, as it is during my breaks from work (in the field of psychology) that I carry out my political activity. It's not easy, because my work is what brings me a living and not the life of an activist.
It would be much more comfortable for me to do nothing in civic and political terms. But it's a question of personality and feeling that I must do my best as a citizen and person. And crossing my arms in the face of so much difficulty we are experiencing is not a stance I adopt in life. I am combative by nature.
As for the attacks, I understand them, because people, like me, are tired of so much corruption, so many lies and unfulfilled promises, and tired of living increasingly poorer.
That's why they distrust anyone who says they're coming for good reasons. We are the most taxed country in Europe, and that is why we have become the poorest people in Europe.
But neither I nor the ADN party (or any other party) will solve the structural problems that have affected us for decades in a week or in six months. The work is hard, long and the fight, mine and that of the ADN party, is directed above all against the supranational entities that are the Owners of This All.
SI – What are the expectations and objectives of your political force in relation to these Legislative Elections?
AM – Our expectations are to elect at least one to three deputies (this so that there is coverage at national level, south, center and north) to the Assembly of the Republic and finally the unhindered voice of the people can have a place in Parliament, so to confront the current power and expose the lie of the official narrative that has been dominating society since 2020.
Once DNA enters the Assembly of the Republic, freedom of expression wins! Censorship is cut with a sickle by the votes of the Portuguese who value their freedom, democracy and value their nation.
We finally want to have someone who fights for our improvement in economic, housing, educational, social justice, health, rights, freedoms and guarantees that are enshrined in the Magna Law that governs us all (Constitution of the Portuguese Republic), we want to continue fighting the 2030 Agenda and prevent the WHO Pandemic Treaty from being implemented in our country, because, if that were to happen, all of our sovereignty would disappear and the Portuguese would be completely hostage to conflicts of interests that do nothing for our existence as a citizens and humans.
SI – What remains to be done in the Algarve?
AM – There’s a lot left to do! We have to give the Algarve its due importance at a national level, because it isn't. The Algarve continues to be considered a district far from the great center of power, but the Algarve represents 80 to 90% of GDP in tourism.
It is urgent to review the Algarve's economic model (tourism sector). Why?
We have two antitheses in the Algarve's regional economy, which are: positive seasonality and negative seasonality. Let us understand these two dichotomies.
In positive seasonality, which occurs from April to October (with the critical bathing period running from June to September), although the economy is at its peak, we have the problems associated with this season.
On the one hand, we have the clogging of hospitals that do not have the human and material structure to support this population avalanche, as the SNS is in deficit and has no capacity to respond to residents during the rest of the year.
On the other hand, we have the N125 which becomes impassable at this time of year.
Public transport is deficient in number and type, in quantity and quality. Mobility becomes highly congested, harming or making life difficult for residents who need to move around to work and ensure quality tourism.
Therefore, we consider it imperative that programs be developed to encourage health professionals to settle in the Algarve, reinforcing existing hospital units, both in terms of human and material resources, thus creating housing and To achieve this, funds must be created for this purpose.
The incentives that should be applied to doctors can be extended to other health professionals, as well as teachers, in order to also establish them in our region – through an increase in the budget in the Ministry of Health, as well as in other Ministries.
Health units must also be created in the fire departments of each land, with properly equipped medical and nursing teams, to ensure greater proximity to citizens, combating both the isolation of populations further away from urban centers and, in the summer, combating floods in central hospitals in the Algarve (Faro and Portimão).
It is essential to eliminate tolls on Via do Infante to boost the entire local economy and not tax companies and residents who are penalized in all aspects, and the N125 is not at all an alternative to our regional mobility.
Regarding negative seasonality. It is urgent to create programs with incentives to establish activities in the Algarve that are not exclusively linked to tourism.
We must, therefore, create conditions for entrepreneurs, lowering taxes, as well as interest rates on bank loans, so that we can once again have a regional industry that was annihilated by previous governments since the 80s of the last century, namely resurrecting, revitalizing and requalify the industry in the fishing sector, fish preserves, tomatoes, cork, carob and agricultural activities.
We propose protectionist laws for regional companies in the Algarve. Companies pay IRC and this tax has been reverted to where they have their headquarters.
We, ADN, argue that this reversal should be based on where the operation is carried out, to encourage local companies and thus encourage economic reinvestment in the region where they operate and not where they have their headquarters, many of which are not even in Portugal .
Finally, as the Algarve is not just sun, sand and sea, we also have a rural area (barrocal), we propose a financial incentive from the Ministry of Economy for tourism during the winter, in order to balance the discrepancy between the two seasonal periods , namely in sports, cultural, leisure and senior tourism, specifically aimed at the Nordic countries, due to the Algarve having a temperate micro climate that is unparalleled in Europe.
This measure is also an added value, as we are looking at people in a humane way and looking at the issue of the importance of family. As? By promoting the retention of human resources linked to the hotel and tourism industry, we will promote the following fundamental aspects: 1) avoid employee turnover, allowing more training in their activities, making them more qualified and experienced professionals; 2) as a result of the first point, we will have quality tourism.
SI – Drought and lack of water is a pressing issue in the Algarve. What solutions do you advocate, in the short term, knowing that the water currently available only arrives until August? And in the medium and long term?
AM – We suggest that all buildings or new urban constructions in their basement build an underground cistern to capture and reuse rainwater for use in gardens and possibly for sanitary flushing and cleaning of the building itself.
In rural areas, underground cisterns must be created to receive rainwater, as well as piped and directed to cisterns or lakes, reusing the water, always creating a cistern so the water does not evaporate during hot periods (summer).
This accumulation of water will promote irrigation and thus develop agriculture and combat the astronomical costs of piped water that make life difficult for farmers and increase production costs.
In addition to this aspect of water capture, schedule the watering of golf courses and the agricultural sector to always be done after sunset. Why? To prevent water loss through evaporation.
Promote the construction of sea water desalination plants for urban and agricultural consumption.
SI – Health is a very deficient sector in the Algarve and in the country. What measures do you recommend to solve health problems in the Algarve?
AM – I include here one of the points of our electoral program that argues that it is necessary to change the contracting model for health professionals, based on productivity and to be more flexible, with the main objective of paying salaries competitive with those of the Private sector, combating the abandonment of doctors and NHS nurses and end waiting lists.
In other words, if public hospitals in the Algarve have more autonomy, especially in terms of management, they could be more attractive to combat the abandonment of doctors and nurses from the NHS and end waiting lists.
SI – What about the Algarve Central Hospital? What should be done?
AM – We do not at all believe that a central hospital will solve the health problem in the Algarve. We have two central hospitals in the two main cities in the region, Portimão and Faro.
We continue to have very serious problems and it is not because there is another hospital building, spending more public financial resources, that the problems of the lack of human and material resources will cease to exist.
We need to boost the capabilities of these hospitals and, according to a project we have already presented, it is to bring health to people and populations that are more decentralized.
As for the integration of certain services into a single unit, anything that allows reducing the burden of public expenditure in the State or in the sector is important. We must have mechanisms for measuring and evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of these services to see whether they are working properly or not.
SI – The Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve and the Regional Health Administration joined, from January 1st, into a single body, the Algarve Local Health Unit. What do you think of this change and what expectations do you have for your future?
AM – The integration of the two entities can facilitate greater coordination and integration of health services in the Algarve region. This can lead to an improvement in operational efficiency, resource management and the quality of care provided to users.
With more integrated management focused on the quality of healthcare, it is possible that the Algarve Local Health Unit can implement improvements in clinical processes, patient safety and user satisfaction, reducing geographic and socioeconomic disparities in access to services of health.
However, it is important to recognize that the transition to a new organizational structure may face challenges, such as resistance to change, the need for internal restructuring and adaptation of health professionals and the community.
In short, the creation of the Algarve Local Health Unit could represent an opportunity to improve the provision of healthcare in the region, as long as it is implemented carefully, with a focus on continually improving the quality of services and responding to the needs of the community. local population.
SI – The previous Government, now only in management, transformed the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions into Public Institutes, adding new functions (such as Agriculture and Fisheries, as well as Culture). What do you think of this change and what expectations do you have for your future? Is this a first step towards Regionalization?
AM – The transformation of Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDR) into Public Institutes, with the addition of new functions such as Agriculture, Fisheries and Culture, may have several implications and expectations for the future of regional development in Portugal.
This change can be seen as a movement towards centralization, as it places more responsibilities and decision-making power under the purview of the central government.
However, at the same time, the inclusion of functions related to agriculture, fisheries and culture may indicate greater attention to the specific needs of each region.
The inclusion of areas such as Agriculture, Fisheries and Culture in the CCDR can have a significant impact on regional development. By integrating these areas, there can be a more holistic and integrated approach to the planning and implementation of regional development policies.
SI – Are you for or against Regionalization? Why?
AM – ADN is in favor of decentralization and giving greater power to the regions, but regionalization, as defended by all parties, is something to create more bureaucracy and jobs for professional politicians and their friends.
SI – Will the integration of the former Regional Directorates of Culture and Agriculture and Fisheries into the CCDR have beneficial effects for these sectors or not?
AM – Its integration is not at all beneficial because, for there to be a real and true effective change in Portugal in institutional terms, all departments must have elements that do not come with procedural and behavioral legacies, such as conflicts of interest, cronyism and other behaviors which we realize never brought success, and recovery of these sectors in question.
If they didn't do it before and today, will they do it later?
SI – What solutions do you recommend for tolls on Via do Infante?
AM – According to our Electoral Program, in Point 158., I quote: “Review PPP contracts and eliminate tolls for SCUTs and entrances to urban centers (CREL and CRIL)”, we understand that the total exemption of the A22 – Via do Infante is fundamental and essential for the health of the Algarve economy, and let us not forget the brutal accident rate that exists throughout the year, worsening in the summer on the N125.
Regarding Via do Infante, it is inconceivable that to this day they are charging tolls for an investment that was made with non-refundable European Union money. This assault on our pockets, which mainly penalizes Algarve residents and businesspeople, must end.
SI – And for the completion of works on the EN125, from Olhão to Vila Real de Santo António?
AM – The Algarve is not just the Sotavento, in the Barlavento Algarvio we also have constant public road works which are naturally imperative.
Therefore, we are in favor of the initiative and its completion.
Obviously, public money must serve people to unite the different cities and locations that are further away and isolated from urban centers.
SI – One of the biggest problems in the Algarve is mobility. Work is being carried out to electrify the Algarve Line, the creation of the Metrobus is expected and there is talk of a possible TGV connection between Faro and Huelva/Seville. What is your opinion on these issues and what solutions do you advocate?
AM – The problem with the railway line in the Algarve is not whether it is electric or diesel. It could even be coal-fired, as long as it was really useful and the paths geographically covered our entire Algarve region.
The basic problem is that we have an obsolete railway line. The main issue is to have the connection points of the respective stops and/or stations without being dynamic to the centers of the cities or municipalities that it covers.
These connection points are not at all satisfactory for the mobility of those who use this means of public transport, in other words, what exists does not serve the population of the Algarve or those who visit us.
The Metrobus mentioned in the question you ask me, in Portimão for example, an internal circuit called Vai Vem has already been created.
When it started, it was going well, however, because this service was handed over to socialism it became an absolute failure. Because ticket prices increased brutally, the route network decreased and the Vai Vem fleet even decreased.
What we here in Portimão, the city in which I live, experience in relation to this specific issue is certainly the same in other municipalities and cities in the Algarve region.
Having said that, we realize that it is not by creating “new things” that the need for mobility and transport of citizens residing in our region is resolved. What really matters is streamlining and modernizing the land public transport network, focusing on maintaining what we already have and making them available to people in order to satisfy their real mobility needs.
Regarding the TGV between Faro and Huelva or Seville, first would only favor the Sotavento Algarvio. We are not interested in talking about the Algarve, referring to just one area of the region, leaving the Barlavento Algarvio aside.
The Algarve is one and we must not forget that it goes from Barlavento to Sotavento, from Sagres to Vila Real de Santo António. The word negative discrimination does not exist in my dictionary, nor does it exist in the ADN party for which I am a candidate.
We believe that this is a megalomaniac project, but that, in terms of efficiency and effectiveness, it will not bring real and concrete added value to the Algarve and the Algarve.
SI – The president of the Algarve Tourism Region complained that the budget of this organization is short and has not been increased for many years. What do you recommend for this sector in the Algarve region?
AM – The budget is always short for these public bodies.
We defend the return of IRC and that companies have to pay for the production location and not for the registered office. In other words, the IRC must be retained in the municipality where the companies carry out their business activity.
SI – In the current Government, does Tourism share a State secretariat with Commerce and Services? Do you think it is enough? Or should a future Government give more importance to Tourism? In what way?
AM – The Tourism sector must be looked at in a rigorous and responsible way, given the importance it has in the Portuguese economy, particularly in the Algarve region.
Obviously there should be a specific Ministry for Tourism, to combat the seasonality in this area that I mentioned in a previous question.
SI – In the case of more divisive issues, will you vote for the AR according to your conviction, even if it goes against your party's guidelines?
AM - Yes No doubt! I believe, in agreement with the other ADN candidates in this region, that all issues, divisive or not, must be defended by the deputy and the region that deserved his votes and political trust and which he represents.
The elected deputy must not give up on his convictions. We (I) do not sell principles to have voters or votes or other interests or cronies or even submitted by centralized powers.
Everything that is put to the vote that does not meet the needs and good of people will have a vote accordingly, as the will and rights of the people who elected us must prevail.
We have a firm and convinced backbone, we are truly loyal, which is why we have the trust of our electorate who knows that we have not betrayed them.
I say more, because we are like this, we are the true voice of the people and without fear of the harmful conflicts of interests for the common good that have been installed in Portugal for years.
All other parties that have parliamentary seats in the AR are absolutely afraid that, through Parliament, the unhaunted voice of the people, who we are and represent, will enter.
We are effectively the only alternative to this misgovernment that we have been witnessing for decades. That's why we have been so suppressed, silenced, denigrated, defamed as right-wing extremists, fascists, homophobes, chaupas, denialists... in the face of the truths that we are speaking and maintaining our strength, they want to silence and discredit us. And what is the best way to discredit us? Ridiculing, attacking, lying, underestimating, labeling things that we really are not.
They are afraid that we will enter Parliament and say what all Portuguese think and feel, in the face of these heinous crimes that have been carried out, above all, and on a large scale, since 2020, with so-called health measures.
They know that we are the voice of the Portuguese resisters who have individually been fighting alone or in their small group. Unity is strength and we, united, will be those who will continue to speak against the 2030 Agenda, against the implementation of the New World Order and about all the unconstitutionalities and genocide that we are unfortunately witnessing.
We will have a voice in politics with a parliamentary seat. Anyone who doesn't know us, please contact us... we will speak to everyone in a positive light and show our thoughts and actions.
SI – Do you consider that it would be useful to change the electoral law, to create single-member and partial constituencies and a national compensation circle, and thus bring deputies closer to citizens? Why or why not?
AM- It is necessary to go further, it is not enough to create single and partial circles and a national compensation circle, which would already be an improvement. It is necessary to change Hondt's method so that thousands of Portuguese votes are not thrown in the trash.
SI – Do you want to add any more topics or questions?
AM- We consider the issue of housing to be very important, as, in Portugal and particularly in the Algarve, it can be a calamity. People are unable to rent a house all year round, as from May onwards they are invited to leave in order to rent for holidays and the prices are prohibitive. A T1 can be rented for more than 1000 euros, and a room can cost between 400 and 800 euros per month.
That being said, we propose a total tax exemption for owners/landlords who rent annually for a minimum period of three years, adding the incentive to support renting for lower-income households. By overcoming the fact that the majority of housing in the Algarve is only intended for the holiday period (summer) or exclusively seasonal, we also overcome the difficulties faced by people who wish to settle in our region of the Algarve.
In this way, there is protection for the family institution. These are penalized multiple times. Food prices are high, so is habituation, taxes are more than many, raising one or more children is almost unbearable, contributing greatly to the drop in the birth rate. All of these are social factors that call Portuguese society into question.
Finally, it is with fear for the Portuguese that I see that ADN is the only party that rebels against the globalist 2030 agenda and against the wokist lobby that prevails in the European Union.
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