In a public meeting, the motion of censure titled “Left-wing politicians were the target of a neo-Nazi group? We are not intimidated” received unanimous approval from the entire municipal council. The executive board, including the PSD/CDS-PP leadership (ruling without an absolute majority), PS, Livre, Cidadãos Por Lisboa (elected through the PS/Livre coalition), PCP, and BE, all voted in favor.
The motion, presented by PS councilwoman Cátia Rosas, aims to express “the deepest repudiation” of the existence of a neo-Nazi group with terrorist intentions targeting democratic political representatives, particularly from the Portuguese left. It reaffirms an unwavering commitment to the values of democracy, political freedom, tolerance, and pluralism as enshrined in the Portuguese Constitution.
Alongside this proposal, the PS demanded a “thorough clarification of facts relating to the potential infiltration of security forces by extremist elements,” specifically concerning an officer in the Lisbon Municipal Police who has been detained on suspicion of belonging to a neo-Nazi cell known as Movimento Armilar Lusitano (MAL). This far-right organization reportedly “promoted racial hatred, xenophobia, and violence against public figures,” especially left-wing politicians.
Filipe Anacoreta Correia (CDS-PP), deputy mayor, representing the PSD/CDS-PP leadership, firmly condemned attacks on freedom “whether it concerns left-wing politicians or not.” He noted that this issue should not solely focus on right-wing extremism, as there are also left-wing groups, including Climáximo, implicated in “attacks on the physical integrity of politicians.”
Socialist Cátia Rosas argued that “if there is an extreme threat, it is posed by the far-right,” asserting that “there is no comparison between defending human rights against the hate speech generated by the far-right.”
BE’s Ricardo Moreira highlighted the insecurity connected with the far-right, including a PSP chief linked to terrorism and the Lisbon Municipal Police. He advocated for an investigation to determine “whether there was any infiltration of the Municipal Police by neo-Nazi forces.”
According to Rui Cordeiro (PSD), councilor for Security, the case of the Municipal Police officer involved with a neo-Nazi cell “is an isolated incident.” He stated that “a disciplinary proceeding was immediately initiated,” which has been suspended pending the outcome of a criminal investigation.
Municipal Police officers are recruited from the PSP through a “highly scrutinized process” based on information including curriculum vitae, professional experience, and integrity assessments.
During the meeting, the council also approved a motion from Cidadãos Por Lisboa demanding that the Government enhance emergency housing responses and protect families facing eviction without dignified alternatives.
“Legislate to suspend evictions of vulnerable families residing in precarious housing unless they are directed to alternative or emergency accommodations,” is one of the measures proposed in the motion, which passed despite opposition from PSD/CDS-PP.
The council also seeks for the Government to follow European Commission recommendations for developing a new housing strategy in collaboration with municipalities, aimed at addressing the housing crisis by increasing public housing availability and implementing price regulations to ensure affordability aligned with family incomes.
