“Y’ all don’t know everything yet. But you’ll know soon. This President has genuinely influenced the Foreigners Law and the Nationality Law. Truly influenced. Those in the main parties, Chega, PS, PSD, know this. There was political backstage influence on nationality and immigration work,” stated André Ventura during a luncheon-debate hosted by the International Club of Portugal at a Lisbon hotel.
Responding to an audience question, the Chega leader argued that it is the President of the Republic’s role to be “intervening” in order to “point out when things are going the wrong way,” adding that the current head of state, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has used this possibility to intervene to shape the final version of the new foreigners and nationality laws.
Ventura claimed that this legitimate backstage intervention occurred because Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa believes “there is no need to control immigration, to have more control over who enters,” and is also against the loss of nationality due to conviction for serious crimes.
After emphasizing the legitimacy of the President’s alleged intervention, Ventura said he would never block laws that strip nationality from criminals if elected, but would use his power as head of state to, for example, prevent the rise in fuel prices.
On the chief of state’s role in governance, André Ventura argued that the President should “have a leading role in the country’s affairs in certain areas,” criticizing Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa for “remaining silent” in light of recent reported failures in the national health service (SNS) response.
“We all remember Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa saying that a secretary of state had a burden because her husband had a debt affecting her in António Costa’s government. So that burden exists. And the burden of people dying while waiting for emergency services, (…) over 100 born outside maternity, the fact that people continue to die for lack of medical care, the President remains silent,” he pointed out.
He added: “So we wouldn’t need a President, frankly. So we could have a King again. Because if it’s to do nothing, to have a first lady, to be cutting ribbons, to ride a horse. I’m not for that. If you want me as a figurehead, I’m not suitable for that. And I think everyone here knows that. No one is going to vote for André Ventura by mistake, for sure,” he added.
