Rui Miguel Fernandes
Top Concerns
Immigration
"They arrive, get papers, take jobs, while I was born here and have nothing."
Economic unfairness
"The game is rigged. Work 50 hours and stay poor."
Corruption
"They're all stealing. At least Ventura calls them out."
Precarious work
"No contract, no rights, no future. Just ride and deliver until I can't."
Respect
"Nobody respects workers like me. We're invisible."
Background
Rui was going to be different. He started university—Information Systems—but dropped out when he couldn't juggle studies and the part-time jobs he needed to pay for them. His parents couldn't help; his father left when he was 12, his mother works cleaning houses.
He's worked construction, warehouses, call centers. Nothing stuck. When his marriage ended three years ago, he was living in a company-provided room and saving nothing. Now he's 36, driving deliveries 50+ hours a week, earning €900-1,200 depending on how hard he pushes himself, with no benefits, no security, no future.
He didn't vote until 2024. What was the point? They were all the same—PS, PSD, making speeches while his rent went up and his opportunities disappeared. Then he found Chega on YouTube. Ventura talked the way he talked. About corruption. About immigrants getting ahead while Portuguese struggled. About the system being rigged.
He knows Chega can't fix everything. He's not stupid. But voting Chega was the first time voting felt like fighting back.
Economic Situation
Income level
Low (€900 1,200/month variable)
Income source
Gig economy—delivery platforms
Financial stress
High
Housing burden
35%
Trajectory
Trapped—no path up
In Their Own Voice
"A country that forgot its own people. I watch immigrants arrive, get housing assistance, get jobs. I was born here, worked since 16, and I have nothing. I'm not racist—I'm realistic. There's only so much to go around, and we're at the back of the line in our own country."
— On Portugal
"You've ignored us for 20 years. Fine. But now there are millions of us. We're not going away. Either address our concerns or we'll keep voting for the people who do. This is on you."
— To Politicians
Hopes
For themselves
himself
"I want a real job. Not gig work—a job with a contract, benefits, vacation. Something I can build on. And to see my son more."
his son
"I don't want him to end up like me. I want him to have opportunities I didn't have. A fair shot."
Personal fears
"Being 50 and still doing this. My body giving out. Becoming homeless. Losing connection with my son."
What he'd say to someone who disagrees with him politically
"Easy to be progressive when you've got a good job and an apartment. Try living like me. Try competing for gig work with people who'll work for less because they share a room with six others. Then lecture me about solidarity."
His message to politicians
"You've ignored us for 20 years. Fine. But now there are millions of us. We're not going away. Either address our concerns or we'll keep voting for the people who do. This is on you."
For Portugal
Portugal
"I want a Portugal that puts Portuguese first. Where being born here means something. Where hard work actually leads somewhere."
Fears for Portugal
"That we become strangers in our own country. That there's nothing left for people like me. That nobody ever fights for us."
How he'd describe Portugal today
"A country that forgot its own people. I watch immigrants arrive, get housing assistance, get jobs. I was born here, worked since 16, and I have nothing. I'm not racist—I'm realistic. There's only so much to go around, and we're at the back of the line in our own country."
Fears
For themselves
Personal fears
"Being 50 and still doing this. My body giving out. Becoming homeless. Losing connection with my son."
His message to politicians
"You've ignored us for 20 years. Fine. But now there are millions of us. We're not going away. Either address our concerns or we'll keep voting for the people who do. This is on you."
For Portugal
Fears for Portugal
"That we become strangers in our own country. That there's nothing left for people like me. That nobody ever fights for us."
How he'd describe Portugal today
"A country that forgot its own people. I watch immigrants arrive, get housing assistance, get jobs. I was born here, worked since 16, and I have nothing. I'm not racist—I'm realistic. There's only so much to go around, and we're at the back of the line in our own country."
What he'd say to someone who disagrees with him politically
"Easy to be progressive when you've got a good job and an apartment. Try living like me. Try competing for gig work with people who'll work for less because they share a room with six others. Then lecture me about solidarity."
Candidate Reactions
How this person would react to each candidate winning
Chega (far-right)
André Ventura
Key trigger: Speaks for him; anti-establishment; immigration stance
Independent ("My party is Portugal")
Henrique Gouveia e Melo
Key trigger: Not a politician, but not Ventura either
PCP (Communist Party)
António Filipe
Key trigger: Workers' rights, but associated with failed left
PSD/CDS backing (center-right)
Luís Marques Mendes
Key trigger: Same old establishment
Iniciativa Liberal
João Cotrim Figueiredo
Key trigger: "For the rich"
PS (center-left)
António José Seguro
Key trigger: PS caused this; privileged elite
Bloco de Esquerda (left)
Catarina Martins
Key trigger: "Defends immigrants over Portuguese"
Information Sources
Where they get their information
community
Medium-HighOther delivery drivers, online communities
online
High TrustYouTube (Chega, commentary), Facebook
social media
High TrustYouTube, Facebook, some TikTok
tv
Medium TrustCMTV, some SIC
Voting History
Past electoral choices and patterns
Abstainer until Chega activated
Chega
"Finally someone who says what I think"
Abstained
"No point"
Abstained
"Didn't care"