“There are specific rules for displaying party propaganda, both during and outside election campaign periods. The posting of posters on the noticeboards of the Faculty of Law at the University of Lisbon and the Academic Association has its own guidelines, which were not adhered to,” the administration stated.
This statement from the Faculty follows accusations from the Academic Association of the Faculty of Law of Lisbon (AAFDL) against deputy Rita Matias, alleging she manipulated security forces by requesting the intervention of the police in response to student protests during a youth action by the Chega party at the Faculty.
On Wednesday, the group visited FDUL to distribute leaflets and put up posters, but the initiative was not pre-authorized, violating the faculty’s regulations that allow political youth groups to form and post materials in allotted spaces.
In this instance, the posters were removed by a student, which led to protests from party sympathizers.
“The actions of students aimed at preventing this breach of school regulations, with explanations from attending professors, led to a heated exchange that required the intervention of police officers present,” stated a communiqué signed by the director, Eduardo Vera-Cruz Pinto, who was not at the faculty on that day.
According to the administration, two students were taken to a room and identified by the police, along with the executive director, Bertolino Campaniço, who was also identified.
To the Lusa news agency, Eduardo Vera-Cruz Pinto’s office clarified that the police intervention was not requested by the administration, “as is reflected in the institution’s culture.”
In a post on the social network X, Rita Matias stated that the Chega Youth visited FDUL to distribute flyers and giveaways, and several students “decided, in a gratuitous and provocative action, to remove and damage the materials and insult” the delegation members.
“In front of authorities, we requested that the offenders be identified because the time of impunity is over. We will not be deterred by left-wing militants,” the deputy expressed.
There is a false statement circulating
After visiting FCT, Egas Moniz, and IPS this week, @chegajuventude visited the Faculty of Law at the University of Lisbon. We handed out flyers and gifts, and the action proceeded normally. So much normalcy that, as you can see… pic.twitter.com/u113DYG5as
— Rita Maria Matias (@ritamariamatias) April 3, 2025
Lusa reached out to the Lisbon Metropolitan Command for comments regarding the police intervention, but no response has been received yet.
