Nostalgia wards off populism in Portugal Disaffected working-class communities across Europe are increasingly lending their support to populist parties. But not so in Portugal where working class towns battling unemployment, poverty and isolation remain politically apathetic.
Cátia Bruno The Agora Project, October 2017 In Caxinas, Aldeia da Luz and Urgeiriça
Death is part of life in Caxinas.
Xico Flores remembers a knock at his door. There was a storm that night; his brother-in-law's boat had gone down at sea. "Some guys tried to swim there and help them", he told me, "but they got scared and came back." On that night almost thirty years ago, Xico's brother, his brother-in-law and three other men died at sea.
It only takes around 20 minutes to cross this small village by foot, but it is described as the largest fishing community in the country. For many years, the sea has provided for entire families here. The men work on the boats and the women work in canned fish factories or help in the "obligation" (a job tailored for women, who help unload their husbands' boats and take it to auction in return for 25 percent of profits).
Xico started working when he was 12 years old. His wife, Lena, first walked through the factory gates when she was 11 years old.