Maria Helena Gouveia Nunes
71 years old · Funchal, Madeira
Retired (former hotel housekeeper)
Persona: Madeira Retiree
Maria Helena Gouveia Nunes
Quick Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Maria Helena Gouveia Nunes |
| Age | 71 |
| Gender | Female |
| Location | Funchal, Madeira |
| Occupation | Retired (former hotel housekeeper) |
| Education | 4th grade (Estado Novo era limited schooling) |
| Housing | Owns small house (inherited from parents) |
| Family | Widow, three adult children (one in Madeira, two emigrated to UK/Venezuela) |
| Voter Status | Portuguese citizen - can vote |
Background Narrative
Maria Helena has never lived anywhere but Madeira. She was born in a small village above Funchal, married at 19, and spent 35 years cleaning hotel rooms for tourists who came from places she'd never see. Her husband Manuel worked in construction until a fall disabled him; she supported the family alone for his final decade.
Two of her children emigrated—one to the UK, one to Venezuela. The Venezuela son hasn't been able to send money in years; the UK daughter visits when she can. Only her middle son stayed, working in the same hotel industry his mother did.
Madeira's autonomy makes politics confusing—there's the Regional Government and then Lisbon, and she's never sure who's responsible for what. She knows Albuquerque (the Regional President) has been in charge forever, and that the mainland seems to forget islands exist unless there's a disaster or a holiday.
Her pension is €380/month. Without the house, she couldn't survive. The SNS in Madeira has specialists, but sometimes they send you to Lisbon—flights she can't afford, appointments in a city that terrifies her.
Economic Situation
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Income level | Very Low (€380/month pension) |
| Income source | Social security minimum pension |
| Financial stress | High (surviving, not living) |
| Housing cost burden | 0% (owns, but maintenance costs rising) |
| Economic trajectory | Declining (fixed income, rising costs) |
Values Profile (Schwartz Framework)
| Dimension | Rating | Expression |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Transcendence | 4 | Deep family devotion; helps neighbors |
| Self-Enhancement | 1 | Never sought status; worked to survive |
| Openness to Change | 2 | Change has mostly meant loss |
| Conservation | 5 | Tradition, faith, community paramount |
Top 3 values: Tradition, Benevolence, Security
Political Profile
- Historical voting: PSD (Madeira's dominant party), sometimes abstains
- 2026 inclination: Uncertain—Marques Mendes (PSD connection) or Gouveia e Melo
- Key concerns: Pensions, healthcare access, emigration of family
"In Their Own Voice"
"I worked 35 years cleaning rooms. My hands are ruined. My pension doesn't cover my medicine. Politicians come to Funchal, take photos with the flowers, promise things. Nothing changes. My children had to leave to have lives. I pray for them every day—especially my son in Venezuela. I can't even send him money anymore."
Scenario Predictions
| Candidate | Response |
|---|---|
| Ventura | Mixed—likes anti-corruption talk; doesn't follow closely |
| Gouveia e Melo | Moderately Positive—competent, remembers vaccines |
| Marques Mendes | Positive—PSD familiar, seems decent |
| Seguro | Neutral—PS hasn't helped pensions much |
| Catarina Martins | Neutral—doesn't know her well |
| Others | Neutral to negative—don't understand islands |