Speaking to journalists in parliament, Livre’s parliamentary leader, Isabel Mendes Lopes, stated that “there are no conditions” for Filipe Melo to remain on the board of the Assembly of the Republic. She urged José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, to whom the party’s position will be sent, to assess what she described as “an unsustainable situation.”
According to the deputy, Filipe Melo behaves in an “absurdly reprehensible manner,” exhibiting conduct “unworthy of the parliament.” She emphasized that “the president of the Assembly of the Republic and all other parliamentary groups should make Chega understand that this deputy should not be on the board of the Assembly of the Republic.”
Isabel Mendes Lopes remarked, “A deputy was attacked by a Chega deputy with one of the most racist phrases that can be said,” adding that this was yet another episode illustrating the lack of regard shown by André Ventura’s party for the Assembly of the Republic.
She further emphasized the necessity to amend the code of conduct for deputies to ensure “a real consequence for those who, with total disregard, are racist, discriminatory, and practically violate the dignity and freedom of deputies and all individuals here.”
Lopes articulated, “This hate speech does not remain confined to the Assembly of the Republic; it spreads outside, and in essence, we are allowing the freedom of our fellow citizens to be curtailed because hate speech spreads, and that is something we cannot allow.”
CNN Portugal reported that Deputy Eva Cruzeiro plans to file a complaint against Filipe Melo with the Transparency and Statute of Deputies Committee after he shouted “go back to your land” during parliamentary sessions on Wednesday.
In September, the same deputy faced a complaint from socialist Isabel Moreira for making “disrespectful gestures, specifically sending kisses,” prompting Aguiar-Branco to request an inquiry from the transparency committee into potential “serious irregularities” by the board secretary.
