Beatriz Almeida
Top Concerns
Emigration decision
"Do I stay and struggle or leave and feel guilty?"
Climate crisis
"My generation will live with consequences of inaction."
Housing impossibility
"Even with a Master's, I can't afford Lisbon or Porto."
Democratic backsliding
"Chega's rise terrifies me. How did we get here?"
Career opportunities
"Portugal doesn't invest in R&D. Where do I go?"
Background
Beatriz is at the crossroads that defines her generation. In six months, she'll have a Master's in Biomedical Engineering from one of Portugal's best universities. Her grades are excellent. Her research supervisor has connections in Germany, the Netherlands, and the US. Every week, she gets LinkedIn messages from recruiters in other countries.
Her parents sacrificed for this education. They drove her to Coimbra every September with car packed to the roof, sent money when the research stipend was late, never complained about the cost. Now they watch her consider job offers that would take her away forever.
She loves Portugal—the language, the culture, the way people gather for dinner, the sound of fado, the Atlantic. But she's done the math. A starting salary in Portugal: €1,200. The same job in Munich: €3,500. Student loans aren't the issue (fees are low), but starting life is. Rent in Lisbon for a young engineer? Impossible.
Her boyfriend Miguel is in the same situation. They've talked about leaving together. They've talked about staying and fighting. They haven't decided.
Economic Situation
Income level
Very low (€400/month research stipend)
Income source
Research assistantship + parents' support
Financial stress
Moderate (student, future uncertain)
Housing burden
70%
Trajectory
At decision point
In Their Own Voice
"A country that invests in educating us, then shrugs when we leave. We're not ungrateful—we're realistic. You can't pay Lisbon rent on Portuguese salaries. You can't build a research career where research isn't funded. This isn't disloyalty. It's math."
— On Portugal
"Stop using brain drain as a talking point and start treating it as the emergency it is. We don't want tax breaks to come back at 40. We want reasons to stay at 25. Fund research. Build housing. Pay teachers. Create opportunity."
— To Politicians
Hopes
For themselves
herself
"I want meaningful work that uses what I've learned. I want to be able to stay in Portugal without feeling like I'm choosing poverty. I want a life, not just survival."
her generation
"I hope we don't all scatter. I hope enough of us stay or come back to build something different."
Personal fears
"Leaving and losing connection to home. Becoming one of those emigrants who visits twice a year and slowly forgets how to be Portuguese."
What she'd say to someone who disagrees with her politically
"I understand being frustrated. But blaming immigrants or the EU isn't going to fix Portuguese salaries or housing. Those are choices our governments made. Let's talk about how to fix that."
Her message to politicians
"Stop using brain drain as a talking point and start treating it as the emergency it is. We don't want tax breaks to come back at 40. We want reasons to stay at 25. Fund research. Build housing. Pay teachers. Create opportunity."
For Portugal
Portugal
"I hope we can become a country that keeps its talent. That invests in science, innovation, young people. That doesn't just export us."
Fears for Portugal
"That my generation is the transition generation—the last to have roots here before everyone just leaves. That Portugal becomes a retirement home for foreigners."
How she'd describe Portugal today
"A country that invests in educating us, then shrugs when we leave. We're not ungrateful—we're realistic. You can't pay Lisbon rent on Portuguese salaries. You can't build a research career where research isn't funded. This isn't disloyalty. It's math."
Fears
For themselves
Personal fears
"Leaving and losing connection to home. Becoming one of those emigrants who visits twice a year and slowly forgets how to be Portuguese."
Her message to politicians
"Stop using brain drain as a talking point and start treating it as the emergency it is. We don't want tax breaks to come back at 40. We want reasons to stay at 25. Fund research. Build housing. Pay teachers. Create opportunity."
For Portugal
Fears for Portugal
"That my generation is the transition generation—the last to have roots here before everyone just leaves. That Portugal becomes a retirement home for foreigners."
How she'd describe Portugal today
"A country that invests in educating us, then shrugs when we leave. We're not ungrateful—we're realistic. You can't pay Lisbon rent on Portuguese salaries. You can't build a research career where research isn't funded. This isn't disloyalty. It's math."
What she'd say to someone who disagrees with her politically
"I understand being frustrated. But blaming immigrants or the EU isn't going to fix Portuguese salaries or housing. Those are choices our governments made. Let's talk about how to fix that."
Candidate Reactions
How this person would react to each candidate winning
Bloco de Esquerda (left)
Catarina Martins
Key trigger: Values aligned, principled, represents her politics
PS (center-left)
António José Seguro
Key trigger: Better than right, but is PS serious about change?
Independent ("My party is Portugal")
Henrique Gouveia e Melo
Key trigger: Competent but politically unclear; military makes her wary
Iniciativa Liberal
João Cotrim Figueiredo
Key trigger: Some modernizing appeal, but too market-focused
PCP (Communist Party)
António Filipe
Key trigger: Respects workers' rights message, seems dated
PSD/CDS backing (center-right)
Luís Marques Mendes
Key trigger: Establishment that created these problems
Chega (far-right)
André Ventura
Key trigger: Anti-democratic, anti-science, everything she opposes
Information Sources
Where they get their information
community
High TrustClassmates, research group, online student networks
online
Medium-HighPúblico, Observador, international science news
social media
Medium TrustInstagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X (academic), TikTok
tv
Low TrustRarely watches
Voting History
Past electoral choices and patterns
Progressive left, looking for authenticity
Livre
"Most aligned with my values, fresh"
BE
"Left alternatives to PS"
Ana Gomes
"Principled, anti-corruption"