I had little to say about the replacement of teachers at the Portuguese School after the editorial by the director of this newspaper two weeks ago. However, the illegitimate politicization of the debate, excessive emotion and blurriness are now descending into attacks of an unacceptable nature.
There are errors in the process, attributable to the school’s leaders and the Foundation that runs it. Above all, there was a lack of prior communication, sociological sensitivity and even political management, both within the Foundation’s board and with the authorities in the MSAR and Portugal. But the reaction, clearly exaggerated and with truncated data, exposes other realities. Firstly, there is a community that is releasing its tension here, after losing security during Covid-19 in its space for opinion and public debate. Quiet at work, in the café, in the newspapers… and they suddenly find a topic on which they all think they are experts.
The PSD’s latest statement is unacceptable. Not just because of the political exploitation of the issue, but above all because of the personal attacks, insinuations with relational dust and character attacks, without any sense of responsibility or urbanity. We published this statement on the website, with doubts; preferring not to silence the voice of an institutional group. It’s better to expose disgrace than to sweep it under the carpet. But none of it makes sense, and it contributes nothing to the debate. The debate must be pursued to the end, just as the trial must be brought to a successful conclusion; protecting what is essential and condemning what is inappropriate.
Everyone remembers the relentless attacks on the “socialist” Vítor Sereno, who came – one imagines – from the office of former minister Miguel Relvas, in the Passos Coelho government. In fact, Miguel Relvas and José Cesário, who is now back in the Portuguese government, used to frequent the Bela Vista Residence, where they had a guest room – and received whoever they wanted – allowing their local party to lynch the friend who received them in the public square.
Let’s be clear. There are those who want to control appointments at the Consulate, IPOR, AICEP, Forum Macau, the Portuguese School… Is that legitimate? Perhaps… But at the right time, in the right place and on acceptable terms. That doesn’t exempt them from the duty of representation – since they want to have it – or from respect in the political struggle. Some even argue that they can’t even do that in Macau, where there are no political parties. But there’s no point in silencing anyone either. It’s important to be clear about how they do it.
Much has already been lost in this process, but there is still much to be gained. Some must accept criticism and listen to what matters; without emotional upheaval; correcting mistakes and separating the wheat from the chaff. Others must ensure decency in public debate, otherwise they will lose reason where they can sustain it. Gratuitous insinuations about relationships, public scrutiny of people’s professionalism and character, have nothing to do with the public cause, nor with real concern for institutions and the community. Let’s hope all this doesn’t end with the application of the payer/decider principle. Because you can already see the pressure for the local authorities to get their hands on this.
