Hours after the leader of the Liberal Initiative (IL) linked parties such as Livre and the Left Bloc to “acts of vandalism” in the country following a pro-Palestine demonstration in Lisbon, Rui Tavares demanded an apology from Mariana Leitão.
“Only an act of desperation can lead a political leader to do this. It’s political irresponsibility, even social irresponsibility, because we already live in a very polarized society, without needing this kind of thing. A responsible political leadership does not do this. Mariana Leitão should apologize for what she did,” stated the Livre spokesperson.
At the same campaign event, at the Adroana market in Cascais, Lisbon district, Left Bloc leader Marisa Matias alleged that the IL is making excuses “to avoid condemning genocide.”
“From the Liberal Initiative, I honestly expect nothing more. I believe that Mariana Leitão and the IL along with its leaders will continue to make every excuse, after two years, failing to condemn genocide and not expressing solidarity with the people being massacred,” she criticized.
On Saturday, some protestors advocating for the liberation of the four Portuguese citizens involved in the Global Sumud humanitarian flotilla, who are arriving in Lisbon tonight, moved into the Rossio train station, with one getting electrocuted attempting to climb onto the top of a train.
Targets of Mariana Leitão’s comments, which challenged distancing from what she termed as “pro-Palestine acts of vandalism” promoted by “leftist radicals,” included the Secretary-General of the PS, who chose not to comment.
“The political focus is on the municipal elections. This crucial political moment occurs in eight days,” he declared, upon arriving at a campaign event in Matosinhos, Porto.
In Setúbal, the IL leader addressed the reactions from left-wing parties, accusing Rui Tavares of delivering a “smug speech.”
“Rui Tavares comes from the radical left, aligns with the radical left, votes favorably on radical left proposals, and then wants the Portuguese to believe he isn’t part of the radical left,” she claimed.
Further south, in Elvas (Portalegre), the Chega president also commented on Saturday’s disturbances, criticizing pro-Palestine protesters who invaded Rossio train station as “doing a disservice to the country.”
“These are people who, instead of protesting about our issues—corruption, insecurity, immigration—are damaging our infrastructure, our transport, because of what’s happening in Palestine, where women and many of these minorities would be treated really lowly, to use a Portuguese expression,” criticized André Ventura.
Also in the Alentejo, but in Arraiolos, the PCP Secretary-General argued that it’s not “this or that isolated incident” at pro-Palestine demonstrations that marks a “broad solidarity movement” of the Portuguese people with the cause.
Social Democrat leader and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro was the only one who did not comment on Saturday’s incidents. He attended the ceremony commemorating the 115th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, at the Town Hall in Lisbon.
In Trofa, the Prime Minister preferred to emphasize that the government he leads has maintained fiscal balance “not through higher taxes, or less investment, but through lower taxes and more investment” in areas such as health, school refurbishment, and also mobility, “in the name of the environment and quality of life.”
