On Friday, Socialist Eva Cruzeiro filed a formal complaint with the President of the Assembly of the Republic against Chega’s deputy Filipe Melo, following an incident on October 29 during a hearing with Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, when immigration issues were being discussed.
“He shouted at me, go back to your land,” recounted the PS deputy in the letter sent to José Pedro Aguiar-Branco.
Addressing this incident at the Assembly of the Republic, the former Chief of the Navy stated: “I find such statements completely deplorable.”
“We are a country that has traveled to many lands. Since 1500, we have globalized the world, and therefore, that has nothing to do with our culture. The true Portuguese culture is not that,” he emphasized.
In front of the journalists, the presidential candidate was also confronted with another case related to a video allegedly sent by Chega’s Vice-President Pedro Frazão to the Reconquista movement.
Henrique Gouveia e Melo then stated “that there are laws against discrimination, and the authorities must act according to the law.”
“Especially when such discrimination is obvious and is spread in the media through ideas that contradict our democracy, our democratic spirit, and even our laws,” he concluded.
At the end of the visit to the neonatology service at São Francisco Xavier Hospital, the former Chief of the Navy was also questioned about his opponents in the race for Belém accusing him of immaturity and making nonsensical statements.
“I don’t respond because that’s petty intrigue politics. I don’t engage in that. I engage in the politics of big issues that affect all the Portuguese,” he argued.
In this context, Gouveia e Melo also sought to highlight his status as an “independent” presidential candidate.
“What I want is independence at the Palácio de Belém, with moderation and the ability to help the country evolve. This country needs to evolve and truly transform,” he added.
