In a press release sent to The Portugal News, it is revealed that Ventura has 22 percent of the mentions online, followed by Pedro Nuno Santos with 20% and Luís Montenegro with 16%.”

The debates

Besides evaluating the popularity of the politicians, the same Barometer analyses the topic in which the candidates for prime minister are mentioned. For example, during the political debates from 21 to 24 April, where Pedro Nuno Santos (PS) and Paulo Raimundo (PCP) debated their programme, “Internet users highlighted Paulo Raimundo's strong criticism of the ineffectiveness of the Socialist government in resolving the problems in the National Health Service.” However, Pedro Nuno Santos was the most mentioned with 57 percent and the topic of health was the most addressed with 45 percent.”

On the same day, CHEGA and Bloco de Esquerda (BE) debated, which was widely discussed online, partly due to the use of Lego blocks by Mariana Mortágua (BE) to explain the imports' origins in Portugal. Nevertheless, “Ventura [CHEGA] was the most mentioned with 57%, and Immigration was the most talked about topic with 43%.”

Credits: Supplied Image;

Although taking place on 8 April, the debate between Rui Tavares (Livre) and André Ventura “continues to generate the most mentions with 12% and the IL/Livre, BE/PAN, IL/PAN and Livre/PAN debates generated the fewest mentions (1%).”

Use of social media

According to the press release sent to The Portugal News, the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) “continues to be the one that uses the networks the most to reach out to the electorate.” In total, from 7 April until 22 April, the party made 334 posts online. On the other hand, PSD is the party with the smallest presence online, having published only 40 posts within the same period. Regarding “engagement, interaction and involvement of users with the content”, CHEGA is the party that most attracts users online, with 43 percent of interactions.”

Author

Deeply in love with music and with a guilty pleasure in criminal cases, Bruno G. Santos decided to study Journalism and Communication, hoping to combine both passions into writing. The journalist is also a passionate traveller who likes to write about other cultures and discover the various hidden gems from Portugal and the world. Press card: 8463. 

Bruno G. Santos