Francisco Tavares and the persistence of errors that cost him victory in the December 1st elections

One of Tavares’s main failings during his term and campaign was his aversion to criticism, especially on social media. Many observers pointed out that the aggressive and impetuous way in which he responded to criticism – instead of opting for a more diplomatic or constructive stance – ended up alienating voters and generating a negative image around his candidacy. Instead of focusing on proposals and presenting solutions to the population’s problems, Tavares preferred to engage in digital disputes, which ended up costing him the trust of a large portion of voters.

Despite this, it seems that Tavares is not aware that his stance towards criticism was one of the determining factors in his defeat. Instead of focusing on the transfer of the dossiers and the transition of management to the new team, an urgent and necessary task in this post-election period, he continues to spend precious hours on social media, responding to all comments, good or bad, with the same intensity that he demonstrated during his term in office and during his campaign. This behavior reflects a lack of prioritization and an obsession with digital approval, to the detriment of more relevant and urgent issues for his own political and personal trajectory.

As the new local government takes office and the island moves forward, Tavares seems more interested in maintaining his social media presence than in preparing for the political challenges that lie ahead. With his focus shifted to fruitless and public discussions on digital platforms, he ignores a crucial responsibility: that of ensuring that the transition of power is carried out as efficiently as possible, facilitating the work of the new administration.

Given this stance, those who closely observed Tavares' campaign and his lack of political maturity may even have some important advice to offer: Francisco, keep the little political reserve you have left to yourself and focus on building a more consistent project for the future . The 2026 election for the position of national deputy is still a possibility, but for that to happen he will need to be wiser and more cautious. Tavares will need to understand that politics is not just about gaining followers on social media, but about building a legacy based on respect for institutions and the ability to dialogue with different political and social currents.

If the former candidate continues to lose himself in digital battles and adopt the same reactive strategy, he risks failing again. The time is now, and the path to the future depends on the ability to learn from past mistakes and reinvent himself to meet the new demands of the political scene. For 2026, Tavares will have to show a more mature, more focused and, above all, more open attitude to dialogue and constructive criticism. Otherwise, his political career could come to an end before he even has a chance to prosper.

MS