Rui Armindo Freitas: "The university is a place of freedom."

What are your childhood memories?

I have vivid memories from a very young age. My childhood was a happy one, full of play. Even as a child, I was drawn to, or perhaps I grew to like even more, the things that still interest me today. I was very curious, especially about everything related to politics, activism, and even business. I used to follow my father closely; he worked in the textile sector in Vale do Ave and that gave me early contact with the world of work.  From an early age I was also interested in politics and what was going on around me. I remember, for instance, being very active in 1991 in the response to the Santa Cruz massacre in East Timor. I have always had a very strong connection to my city, Guimarães. People from Guimarães tend to have that local pride and I’ve always cultivated it.

You graduated in Economics. Why did you choose Universidade Católica?

Choosing Católica came naturally because, at the time, it was already a school that stood out in the North for Management studies, with a very contemporary vision. The employability rate of the degrees offered by the Faculty of Economics and Management, now Católica Porto Business School, was very high, and the student and career support services truly made a difference. Throughout our academic path, there are always professors who leave a mark on us, not necessariçy the most obvious ones or those teaching central subjects, but those with whom we build meaningful relationships and lasting memories. At Católica, there was a strong sense of closeness. The entire university had a very human atmosphere. Mr. Américo, for instance, who worked in the administration office, knew every student by name. Professor Carvalho Guerra was also a remarkable figure, with a warm and personal relationship with students. It was a very close-knit, almost family-like environment.

Throughout your professional life, you have worked in various sectors and have always been involved in associations. What drives you?

I have always been connected to associations, perhaps by nature. This connection naturally led me to also get involved in politics, always from a perspective of civic participation. I had never held executive positions in politics, until now, at a stage in my life when I have the necessary independence to do so, with a sense of mission. That's what drives me today: a true sense of mission. I served in both the XXIV and now the XXV Constitutional Governments, putting everything else on hold to take on this challenge. When you’re called to serve your country, it’s hard to say no. Even during my years at Católica, I took part in the student association and was involved in the youth wing of the political party I’ve belonged to since I was very young. I was invited to join at a young age, and I felt that calling. In the end, what matters most in business, in politics, and in associations are always human relationships, the way we manage people and connect to them. The different sectors I have worked in bring specific challenges, but the essence is the same: human relationships. Problems are much easier to solve when you can build good relationships and find solutions together.

When you’re challenged, is it hard to say no?

Yes, very difficult. I find it difficult because, when someone asks for help, I naturally feel called to respond. When I took on this role full-time, I had to resign from 16 organizations I was involved with — brotherhoods, associations, and others. I’ve always had that impulse: “Do you need help? Then let’s go.” It’s always been part of my character.

As Deputy Minister, you make decisions with national impact. How do you approach that responsibility?

I am a Catholic and having studied at Universidade Católica, I carry a framework that goes beyond faith, a social, ideological, and philosophical framework deeply connected to the Church’s social doctrine. This Christian tradition forms the foundation of our Western culture, of our Law, of our Economy. But I believe that having a solid vision of society, grounded in clear values, helps us make better decisions. Often, they’re difficult decisions, and we must always remember that, at the end of the decision-making chain, there’s a person - and this decision can have a deep impact on that person's life. Therefore, the goal should be to generate the greatest possible positive impact for the greatest number of people. Of course, you can never please everyone; there is no perfect solution. But we should aim to optimize, to find a balance that benefits the maximum number of people. This is the great difficulty of politics: keeping our eyes on the future, while solving the problems of the present. Governing also means laying the foundations for what’s to come.

Governing for the present and for the future...

Absolutely, and there is no manual for being a member of the Government. Of everything I've done in life, this is the most challenging role. There is no playbook. We look at our past experiences and it’s that background that shapes our vision for the future. A government official must deal with the issues of today but never lose sight of the need to build the future.

What role does proximity policy play in your vision of public service?

Today I serve as Deputy Minister for the Presidency and Immigration. And there is no way to make tough decisions without direct contact with reality. I always make a point of knowing the field, whatever the role. It is essential to understand the real-world context we’re trying to regulate or transform. Sometimes, we’re criticized by people who take a superficial view of things, as if they had the same degree of certainty as those who deeply engage with the issues. Politics must be grounded in proximity, with a genuine understanding of the problems. We know that we cannot solve everything for everyone, but we must try to solve it as much as we can, responsibly.
In my particular case, I am still involved in local politics. I have been a municipal councillor in Guimarães for 20 years. I still pay attention to everything: from the water tax to the municipal budget, to the rehabilitation of a road that can boost the local economy. I’ve always done it with passion. I’m deeply connected to my hometown, to Vale do Ave, and to the textile industry, one of the cornerstones of our economy and identity.

What makes the region special?

It’s the people — their capacity for hard work. In the end, it always comes down to people. People are the defining factor in everything. A place is nothing without those who inhabit it - it is the people who give it its identity. And not just the people living there now, but those who came before us — those who built history, who shaped our way of seeing the world. Looking at the Vale do Ave, at Guimarães — it’s a region of hardworking people who never shy away from a challenge. On this common ground of work, those who do not turn their faces to the struggle have a very fierce way of being in everything, in the way they present themselves to the country, always proud, always strong. No one remains indifferent. It’s a city that was European Capital of Culture in 2012 and continues to leave its mark on Portugal. Everyone recognizes what it represents. Vale do Ave was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution in Portugal in the 19th century. Much of what drives today’s Portuguese economy was born from there and then.

How do you view the role of universities in Portugal?

There is a challenge that we still have to overcome, which is the connection between academia and the economy. Much progress has been made - reality today is very different from 20 years ago. Back then, universities were one thing, and businesses were another. Fortunately, that’s no longer the case — but I believe there’s still room for more collaboration. Universities should never lose what sometimes gets lost amid the acceleration of communication, social media and competing interests. A university must remain a space for debate, for freedom of thought, a space where there must be critical capacity to help build society. This, indeed, is a fundamental role of universities. From a political point of view, university is a place of freedom, but it must also be a pole of evolution and even contestation. Universities must question everything. We have to question more. I wish there was no divide between those who drink from the first water of scientific knowledge and then others who will only read what comes from books produced elsewhere. I wish everyone would question it. Take Católica, for example: it has an extraordinary academic community. This critical mass must be harnessed by society at large. That’s how I see the future of universities: in their ability to reflect society and generate solutions. They mustn’t be afraid to innovate, to fail and try again, to think collectively.

What do you hope for Portugal?

After a year in government, I see challenges that perhaps on the first day I did not imagine existed. Yet I still come to work every day with the same energy as the first day. And I will not give up. After all, I'm from Guimarães (laughs). What do I want and aspire to? Above all, I want to leave my children a better Portugal than the one I received - with higher incomes, greater purchasing power, a more developed economy, stronger scientific output, a better quality of life, and more growth. Portugal has the characteristics of an extraordinary country. We are an extraordinary people. Portugal has an energy that must be awakened. We’ve proven that we have the best. in all areas. We always have the best. But what would be truly remarkable is if everyone could be very good on average. That’s the challenge: to raise the average - of skills, of quality, of everything we do. We already have the very good ones. They already inspire us. And, in fact, we are a country that, due to its strategic position, its multicultural history, its connection to the world (we have always been a globalist country, open to the world) - we have a fundamental role.

Are you optimistic?

Always optimistic. We are extraordinary. I was at Católica just two weeks ago and what they’re doing is extraordinary. But, thankfully, they’re not the only ones — there are many extraordinary people across Portugal. That’s why I can’t help but be optimistic about our country. We must learn how to take Portugal's potential and transform it. We can’t live only on potential, only on hope, only on pride. The great challenge is to turn that potential into something concrete.

Thousands of young people have just entered Higher Education. What advice would you give to these young people who are now starting their university life?

They’re about to begin the most extraordinary stage of their lives. It is a stage that will shape who they will become. No one forgets their first day at university. No one forgets the night before - those butterflies in your stomach (laughs). May they live this university journey with the certainty that, by the time they leave, they will be much better. So if there is effort and dedication, everything will fall into place for a life full of success.