President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa addressed journalists at the end of a visit to the Diplomatic Bazaar in Lisbon. He was questioned regarding the criticisms made by Chega leader André Ventura about Angolan President João Lourenço’s comments on the colonial period during celebrations of Angola’s 50th anniversary of independence.
Declining to comment on André Ventura’s statements, the head of state remarked that “relations between Angola and Portugal are excellent,” encompassing ties between the two populations as well as between authorities of both nations in economic, financial, social, and cultural aspects.
“They have always been good at the level of President and Prime Minister, with the two Prime Ministers, and continue with the current government,” he emphasized.
Continuing, the President of the Republic highlighted that during this visit marking Angola’s 50 years of independence, “the person who spoke on behalf of the deputies in the meeting with Angolan deputies was precisely the parliamentary leader of the party that received the second-most votes, Chega.”
The head of state noted that Chega’s parliamentary leader, Pedro Pinto, who was part of the delegation on this visit, “delivered a speech that was very well-received, discussing fraternity, friendship, and Luso-Angolan relations.”
“This represented the position of the Portuguese deputies, but was expressed by the leader of the second-largest party in the parliament,” he highlighted.
Regarding André Ventura’s criticisms of João Lourenço’s speech, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa responded: “I do not comment on the electoral campaign, therefore I will not comment.”
Speaking in the Assembly of the Republic on Wednesday, André Ventura described the words of the Angolan President on colonialism and slavery as “a disgrace and a humiliation for Portugal,” arguing that “a dignified Portuguese President would have stood up and turned his back.”
