Ventura said it is “an issue related to the YouTube account” and occurred before Tilly became a deputy, emphasizing that “Chega has nothing to do with this, nor was it called or involved in the process.”
“It is a personal matter, his own, and he wasn’t even a Chega deputy, nor was Chega called or involved in the process. However, as you know, for me, the rules are always the same, the deputy will be heard, he has already had the opportunity to explain to me. […] If it leads to that conclusion, there will be consequences. We are always very clear and straightforward about this, whoever it is, and whichever deputy it may be,” he stated.
“We will see what happens regarding Deputy João Tilly and in the end, you know I will be here to make that assessment, without ever taking refuge anywhere,” added the Chega leader.
During a press conference, André Ventura was questioned about the lifting of parliamentary immunity of Deputy João Tilly, so he can answer in a case related to suspicions of irregularities in party financing.
Ventura said it was about “150 euros that were monetized by the YouTube account.”
In a video published on Thursday, the deputy confirmed that it involves a transfer of 150 euros in 2021, identified as a “donation,” after he provided a bank account and an ‘mbway’ contact (a platform that allows money transfers through a phone number) for those who wanted “to contribute to the channel or help.”
“That money [was] for my channel, it has nothing to do with the party,” he said.
A source connected to the case told Lusa that the immunity of the deputy elected from the Viseu district was lifted so he could be named a defendant and questioned as such under suspicions of a crime involving participation in the allocation and obtaining of prohibited funding.
The issue concerns a fundraising event for the party, allegedly promoted by the deputy before he was first elected, through a video on the YouTube platform, where he provided his daughter’s account.
According to Jornal de Notícias, the video was published in December 2021, and João Tilly shared the correct party information for donations but also indicated his daughter’s contact as an alternative.
