A complaint has been filed with the Department of Investigation and Prosecution in Lisbon targeting the leader of Chega and presidential candidate for the January 18 elections, as well as other unnamed deputies of the far-right party.
The issue revolves around posters of the Chega-supported presidential candidate André Ventura, featuring messages aimed at the Bangladeshi and Roma communities, stating “This is not Bangladesh” and “The Roma must obey the law.”
“What motivates an association that combats racism is the protection of victims from far-right violence, utilizing all available means,” stated SOS Racism in a communiqué, asserting that “Chega’s racist and xenophobic posters and messages affect and harm thousands of people.”
In recent days, several Roma associations have filed complaints with the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) against André Ventura’s posters, alongside three other complaints submitted by the Commission for Equality and Against Racial Discrimination (CICDR).
The National Election Commission has also forwarded the complaints received to the MP, deeming the content of political propaganda subject to certain limitations.
“SOS Racism demands that the Public Prosecutor’s Office conduct a thorough investigation to ensure the law is upheld,” the movement added in a statement, urging democratic agents and institutions to “prevent the use of racist and xenophobic violence and ensure that political parties do not exploit democracy to promote hatred, nor to humiliate, offend, and harm people.”
