The article addresses the relationship between democracy and accountability, arguing that the way rulers react when forced to explain their actions is a fundamental indicator of the quality of a democracy. According to the text, it is in these moments that small signs of authoritarianism cease to be mere indications and become real concerns.
The article warns of the importance of not ignoring these signs from the outset. It argues that one should not wait for extreme situations, such as the closure of a news agency, to recognize that something is going wrong in a democratic system.
The Chega party is mentioned in the text as an example of the type of political force whose signs of authoritarian behavior should be identified and combated in a timely manner, before they reach more drastic measures.
