Diogo Nascimento
31 years old · Almada, across the river from Lisbon
Environmental NGO project coordinator
Persona: Progressive Urban Activist
Diogo Nascimento
Quick Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Diogo Nascimento |
| Age | 31 |
| Gender | Male (uses he/him) |
| Location | Almada, across the river from Lisbon |
| Occupation | Environmental NGO project coordinator |
| Education | Master's in Environmental Studies (Universidade Nova) |
| Housing | Renting apartment with partner (€800/month total) |
| Family | Lives with partner Ana (29, teacher), no children |
| Voter Status | Portuguese citizen - can vote |
Background Narrative
Diogo grew up in a working-class family in Almada—father a dockworker, mother a cleaning lady. He was the first in his family to attend university. That experience politicized him: he saw how class determined opportunity, how systems perpetuated inequality, how environmental destruction hit the poor first.
Now he works for an environmental NGO, coordinating campaigns on climate justice, sustainable cities, and corporate accountability. The pay is modest (€1,200/month), but the work feels meaningful. He organizes protests, writes policy briefs, speaks to journalists, and spends too many evenings in meetings.
He and Ana met at a housing rights demonstration. They share values, frustrations, and a small apartment they can barely afford. Marriage isn't important to them—they consider themselves committed without papers. Children seem impossible: too expensive, too uncertain, maybe irresponsible given climate projections.
Diogo watches Chega's rise with alarm. He sees patterns from history—economic anxiety weaponized against minorities. He believes his generation has a responsibility to fight this.
Economic Situation
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Income level | Lower-middle (€1,200/month + Ana's €1,100) |
| Income source | NGO salary (stable but modest) |
| Financial stress | Moderate |
| Housing cost burden | 35% of combined income |
| Economic trajectory | Stable but limited |
Values Profile (Schwartz Framework)
Higher-Order Values
| Dimension | Rating | Expression |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Transcendence | 5 | Justice, equality, environment—core to identity |
| Self-Enhancement | 2 | Not status-driven; seeks impact over recognition |
| Openness to Change | 5 | Embraces change, innovation, transformation |
| Conservation | 1 | Actively challenges tradition, hierarchy |
Specific Values (Top 3 priorities)
- Universalism: Justice for all, environmental protection, equality
- Self-Direction: Intellectual freedom, autonomy, following conscience
- Benevolence: Caring for community, solidarity
Moral Politics Frame (Lakoff)
Primary frame: Nurturant Parent (strong)
Expression: Diogo believes society should care for all its members, especially the vulnerable. Government should enable flourishing, protect the environment, and ensure no one is left behind. He sees empathy as the foundation of politics.
Information Ecosystem
| Source Type | Specific Sources | Trust Level |
|---|---|---|
| TV | Rarely; clips shared online | Low |
| Online | Público, Expresso, Guardian, social media links | Medium-High |
| Social Media | Twitter/X, Instagram, Reddit, activist networks | High for movement news |
| None regular | N/A | |
| Community | NGO colleagues, activist networks, partner Ana | Very High |
Media consumption pattern: Heavy social media user. Gets news through activist networks and curated feeds. Critical of mainstream media but reads quality outlets. International news important. Podcasts during commute.
Political Profile
Voting History
| Election | Vote | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Legislative | Livre | "Best synthesis of progressive values" |
| 2022 Legislative | BE | "Strategic vote for left" |
| 2021 Presidential | Ana Gomes | "Anti-corruption, principled" |
| Historical pattern | Left/progressive, seeking authenticity |
Political Identity
- Left-Right self-placement: 1/10 (firmly left)
- Party identification: Progressive left; floats between BE, Livre, PCP sympathy
- Political engagement: Very High—votes, protests, organizes, campaigns
2026 Presidential Inclination
- Current leaning: Catarina Martins (strong)
- Certainty: Certain
- Key deciding factors: Democratic defense, housing, climate, blocking far-right
Top Concerns (Ranked)
- Climate emergency: "We have years, not decades. Portugal is burning. Where's the urgency?"
- Far-right rise: "Chega isn't just another party. It's a threat to democracy and minorities."
- Housing crisis: "Shelter is a right, not a speculation asset."
- Social inequality: "The wealth gap is obscene. We have oligarchs and poverty."
- Democratic health: "Corruption, low engagement, populism—our democracy is fragile."
Hopes
For himself:
"I want my work to matter. To look back and know I fought for the right things. To build a life with Ana that reflects our values."
For Portugal:
"I hope we can become a model—renewable energy leader, just transition, inclusive society. Show that another way is possible."
For the future:
"I hope we stop Chega before it's too late. That my generation is the firewall, not the one that let it happen."
Fears
Personal fears:
"Burning out. Giving everything to movements that fail. Watching the world I fight for slip away."
Fears for Portugal:
"A Chega government. Deportations. Attacks on LGBTQ+ rights. Environmental policies gutted. A country I don't recognize."
Deepest fear (often unspoken):
"That we've already lost. That the systems we fight are too entrenched. That my generation will inherit ruins and be blamed for them."
"In Their Own Voice"
How he'd describe Portugal today:
"A country at a crossroads. We could be a model of just transition, renewable energy, social housing done right. Or we could slide into the nationalist nostalgia that's destroying other countries. The choice is now."
What he'd say to someone who disagrees with him politically:
"I get that you're angry. I'm angry too. But blaming refugees, or queer people, or the EU—that doesn't fix Portuguese wages. It doesn't build houses. It just gives someone else to hate while the powerful stay powerful."
His message to politicians:
"Stop treating climate as a side issue. Stop treating housing as market problem. Stop treating Chega as legitimate opposition rather than threat. These aren't policy debates—they're emergencies."
Scenario Response Predictions
| Candidate | Predicted Response | Key Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Ventura | Strongly Negative | Existential threat—will mobilize against |
| Gouveia e Melo | Negative | Military, unclear values, technocratic doesn't inspire |
| Marques Mendes | Negative | Establishment that failed us |
| Seguro | Neutral | Better than right, but PS has disappointed |
| Catarina Martins | Strongly Positive | Ally, values aligned, trusts completely |
| Cotrim Figueiredo | Strongly Negative | Neo-liberalism is the problem, not solution |
| António Filipe | Positive | Respects labor focus, somewhat dated |
Notes for Scenario Development
- Activist organizing as daily life
- Climate anxiety as emotional driver
- Relationship with Ana for personal dimension
- Working-class background adds complexity to progressive identity
- Could interact with: Chega voters (confrontational?), immigrants he advocates for, older leftists
- In "Day in the Future" vignettes: protest scenes, NGO meetings, watching election results, difficult conversations with family