Overnight and into the morning, the Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising around 50 vessels en route to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, was intercepted by Israeli forces. This resulted in the detention of four Portuguese citizens, including Mariana Mortágua and actress Sofia Aparício.
In light of the incident, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro expressed his hope that the Portuguese citizens would return home “without any incident,” asserting that the humanitarian flotilla’s message had been conveyed.
The Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (PS) voiced support for the government’s stance during a campaign event in Estremoz, stating that the state is “doing everything it can” while refraining from passing judgment on “individual actions.” This reaction contrasts with that of former socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos, who praised the “bravery” of Mariana Mortágua and the other detained activists.
In contrast to the PS, the leaderships of the Left Bloc and Livre criticized the Portuguese government’s actions.
The spokesperson for Livre, Rui Tavares, accused the prime minister of “coldness and passivity” regarding the situation of the Portuguese detained by Israel. During a campaign event in Vila Franca de Xira, Tavares remarked that, unlike the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Luís Montenegro “does not uphold the PSD’s values of humanity.”
Similarly, Fabian Figueiredo of the Left Bloc criticized the government for providing scant information about the detentions and praised President Marcelo Rebelo for his willingness to engage with the issue.
PCP Secretary-General Paulo Raimundo, speaking to journalists during an event in Odivelas, argued that the government is “far from doing what is urgent” to “end the genocide” in Palestine, stating that the humanitarian flotilla aimed at the Gaza Strip was not on a “cruise.”
“The vessels of the humanitarian flotilla were not heading to Palestine on a whim,” he said, “but because there is an ongoing genocide at the hands of Israel, with the complicity of the United States and the European Union.”
The leader of Chega, making his first campaign appearance today—having cited personal reasons for his absence on Tuesday and Wednesday—targeted the Left Bloc’s leader, accusing her of “irresponsibility” and questioning who would bear the cost of bringing Mariana Mortágua back to Portugal.
“Mariana Mortágua placed herself in this situation by choice, no one told her to go there. She knew, as she could not but know, that it was a war zone internationally prohibited. She knew, as she could not but know, that there was a restricted zone which would not allow the boat she was on to pass,” he declared.
The Chega president deemed it “pure irresponsibility” and “lack of common sense,” in addition to being a “mere circus act of the extreme left.”
Similarly, the leader of the Liberal Initiative, Mariana Leitão, criticized the behavior of the Left Bloc’s coordinator, suggesting political opportunism.
“The question arises whether Mariana Mortágua served the cause or used the Palestinian cause for her own benefit,” she stated.
The PSD president and Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, was abroad today in Denmark, attending a European Political Community meeting. He was substituted on the “municipality tour” by Sebastião Bugalho—a MEP who joined the party in 2024 and is not part of the national leadership.
In political terms, the most significant action for the Social Democrats will occur tonight. The candidate from the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM/MPT/RIR coalition for the Amadora City Council, Susana Garcia, will host a campaign dinner featuring former PSD leaders Pedro Passos Coelho and Manuela Ferreira Leite.
