The president of Chega, André Ventura, announced on Wednesday his intent to again disclose the names of immigrant children in Parliament, despite the party facing criticism for doing so previously.
“If you asked me if I would do the same again: I would,” he stated in an interview with CNN Portugal, when questioned about the necessity of revealing children’s names and whether this could incite a culture of hatred against the party.
“I will stand by the position I took, the one Rita Matias took. It was a stance that drew attention to an issue, which is multi-ethnicity and multinationality—not inherently bad in schools—but it’s reaching dramatic proportions,” he explained, noting that the list was public.
Ventura also discussed the “hundreds of complaints” he receives, as do other deputies, from teachers or parents claiming that some people are “jumping the queue” or receiving “priorities” in education. “Parents can’t enroll their children in school mid-year if they move, but if someone arrives from abroad, they are guaranteed access to schools, nurseries, or primary education,” he stated, sharing the information he receives.
“We must include those who come from abroad, there is no doubt. The best form of inclusion is education. However, I cannot accept that in my country someone from abroad has priority access to a nursery over those who are already here,” he asserted.
Ventura further commented on the unemployed, questioning, “Why on earth do the children of the unemployed have access to nurseries? If they are not working, the priority should be for those who are working and cannot stay at home with their children. We have created this mentality of the country of the helpless.”
“It is not the guards who watch over the inmates; it is the inmates who watch over the guards”
The interview also touched on other current issues, including the trial of former Prime Minister José Sócrates — whom Ventura is “99% certain embezzled the country” — or healthcare, where the Chega leader claimed it is not money that is lacking, but rather “good management.”
Justice was another topic, particularly a recent incident involving the escape and subsequent recapture of two inmates from the Alcoentre Prison in Lisbon.
Justice Minister Rita Alarcão Júdice spoke on Wednesday and Thursday about the lack of resources at the prison that ‘facilitated’ the escape, stating that at the time there were 17 prison guards on duty for about 400 inmates. She reiterated that there are “30 guards on medical leave” at that prison.
The Justice Minister stated that, on the day of the escape of two inmates from the Alcoentre Correctional Facility, 17 prison guards were on duty for approximately 400 inmates. She also mentioned that there are “30 guards on medical leave” at that prison and noted the prison guards’ strike.
“The prison system is imploding. It is not the guards who watch over the inmates, it is the inmates who watch over the guards. It is true what I said in Parliament today: it only takes TikTok to see parties inside prisons, parties with drugs in cells. See mobile phones in the cells. And the guards can’t do more because they are far too few,” he remarked, advocating for the implementation of competitive hiring processes.
The opposition leader added that it is necessary to address the “decrepit” facilities. “The minister hasn’t been in office for ten years, but she was part of the previous government: we haven’t seen any substantial reform. I see her clearly, with some incompetence,” he opined.
