Alexandra Leitão, the Socialist Party (PS) candidate for the Lisbon City Council, stated that “immigrants do not have to assimilate,” but rather “should have conduct compatible with certain values.”
In a statement on CNN Portugal on Sunday night, the socialist emphasized the importance of distinguishing between “religion, culture, and nationality.” “These are different things. This is very important,” she stressed.
“When we talk about religions, it is obviously in the name of the values we all cherish, talking about inter-religious dialogue, about religious freedom, about religion as a factor of integration,” said Alexandra Leitão.
“Another dimension is the cultural issue, which is different,” she noted.
This is how she clarified her position.
“I reject the expression acculturation. People living in Portugal with a different culture, be they immigrants of any type, whether they are here for other reasons, do not have to assimilate. I reject this logic as it implies not being free to develop their cultures, which include what they eat, what they wear, the music they listen to, the holidays… so many things,” she pointed out.
“What they must have, however, is conduct, something that, by the way, also applies to Portuguese culture, conduct that is compatible with certain values, principles, and rules that derive from the Constitution and what it entails, let’s say,” she argued.
It should be remembered that Alexandra Leitão decided not to run for the PS leadership as she is focused on the local elections.
