The Left Bloc (BE) has raised concerns about a planned gathering by the Ergue-te party, the Habeas Corpus association, and Grupo 1143, scheduled for April 25 at Martim Moniz Square in Lisbon—marking 51 years since the Carnation Revolution. In a query to Margarida Blasco, the minister responsible, and signed by parliamentary leader Fabian Figueiredo, the BE highlights these organizations’ history of violent and intimidating actions, hate speech, and disrespect for democratic legality. The BE references information indicating that the Public Security Police (PSP) issued a non-negative opinion for the gathering, citing no current indications of public disorder risk.
This contrasts with a decision made in February 2024, when a protest planned by the same Grupo 1143 at the same location was prohibited. That prohibition was based on a PSP assessment identifying a high risk to public order and safety due to the area’s physical and social characteristics and the likelihood of clashes with other demonstrations, the BE argues.
According to the BE, the inconsistency between these two assessments raises serious concerns about the authorities’ criteria, especially regarding public safety and the rights of local populations. The party, led by Mariana Mortágua, emphasizes that this shift in criteria is even more troubling given the removal of the chapter on the threat of violent far-right groups in Portugal from the 2024 Annual Internal Security Report (RASI), which the BE has criticized.
The BE argues that deleting this chapter doesn’t eliminate the threat but signifies a dangerous institutional devaluation. They suggest that this may reflect an underestimation of the public order risk posed by the gathering of far-right groups, with a violent history, in a multicultural urban space on a day of significant symbolic value. The inconsistency between the past and current risk assessments demands urgent political scrutiny, they warn.
In light of these developments, the BE seeks clarification on the specific elements underpinning the current PSP risk assessment and why it is now perceived that there are no risks to public order, given that the same groups were previously barred from protesting at the same location under similar circumstances over a year ago. They also inquire if the risk to the local population’s safety, particularly in the multicultural community known for these groups’ provocation and violence, was considered.
The BE also questions what measures are planned to ensure the safety of the Martim Moniz area residents on that day.
