A controversy arose when Chega requested the postponement of a motion of sorrow from Livre for victims of political violence in the United States.
Rui Tavares protested, recalling that during last week’s meeting, Chega opposed including Livre’s initiative on the agenda, effectively preventing it from being discussed alongside projects from CDS and Chega, despite having a “material connection.”
The Livre leader called for “reasonableness and flexibility” from Chega’s bench and threatened to exercise “the same right of postponement” concerning proposals from that party.
Deputy Ricardo Pinto stated that “Chega will never give in to any form of blackmail,” which Tavares denied, calling it “retaliation.”
“Due to what I see as delaying tactics, it was impossible to discuss political violence, including victims from the two major parties in the United States” since June, criticized Rui Tavares, condemning Kirk’s murder and recalling the assassination of Minnesota State Congresswoman Melissa Hortman and the attacks on Democrats John Hoffman and Josh Shapiro.
The debate and vote on Livre’s initiative to “condemn every act of political violence, regardless of the author and victim or the reasons,” were postponed, with Diogo Pacheco Amorim promising Rui Tavares a favorable vote from Chega.
Pacheco Amorim considered “absolutely regrettable” the “many reactions of joy, from the left,” to Kirk’s death.
From PS, Catarina Louro lamented “the death of Charlie Kirk and all victims of political violence,” but noted that Chega’s motion “goes far beyond a motion of sorrow.”
PSD deputy Paulo Neves deplored “the horror” of the attack on Kirk but regretted that the issue was being “individualized,” criticizing the socialist bench.
“PS not accompanying this condemnation perfectly defines the new times we now live in,” he condemned, concluding: “There are no good or bad murders.”
Socialist deputy Eva Cruzeiro justified her vote against: “Racism and homophobia are forms of political violence, not freedom of expression. Turning a murder victim into a hero, when what he did were hate speeches,” she considered, although noting she mourned the death of the American ultra-conservative activist.
Kirk, 31, advocated, among other beliefs, the idea that it was worth sacrificing the lives of some individuals, murdered by shooting in the United States, so that Americans could maintain the right to possess firearms.
The activist, a father of two, was a close ally of President Donald Trump, who announced the posthumous awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Kirk, the highest civilian honor in the country.
The alleged assassin—a 22-year-old white male—faces seven charges, including capital murder, a crime punishable by death.
