“This is truly a political maneuver, there is no other name for it, this is a political maneuver. Done at this time, in these terms, with this request for action, this is a political maneuver, it’s to ensure a decision is made so that you can broadcast the dismantling of posters live, the dismantling of political messages, the dismantling of billboards,” he stated.
Six individuals have taken legal action against André Ventura, demanding the leader of Chega removes within 24 hours the billboards referencing the Roma community.
The candidate and leader of Chega called a press conference to respond to this action, which he also described as “political persecution,” asserting that in a democracy “there is a separation of powers and there is also political freedom.”
André Ventura said he chose, “in good conscience, the messages that should be delivered in this candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic,” noting that “it is no different” from what he says publicly.
He further insisted that he would not remove the billboards, “unless there is a court ruling.”
“I will not remove them because I believe I am right, I will not remove them because I believe the Roma must comply with the law, as everyone must comply with the law, I will not remove them because I believe the Roma community in Portugal must understand that they have to follow rules, I will not remove them because I genuinely believe that the time of impunity is over, that the time when one could do as one pleased is over, and this country needs to follow order,” he emphasized.
The candidate for Belém suggested that if the court decides in favor of removing the billboards, “it will be giving a profoundly wrong signal to the country from a democratic standpoint” and a “profoundly wrong signal to future election campaigns and to freedom of expression in Portugal,” as well as “a signal from the Justice that Roma have a privileged status preventing any billboards from referring to them.”
“It will reinforce the sense of impunity,” he claimed, foreseeing “an error with profound judicial and political consequences that will occur in the midst of a campaign for the 2026 presidential elections.”
“We are truly witnessing a swift attack on political freedom of expression, but also a coordinated political effort to nullify and silence a candidate,” he argued, deeming it “a defeat for democracy.”
Once the action, which cost 30,000 euros, is accepted by the court, it will have 20 days to schedule a trial to determine if André Ventura must remove the billboards.
The Chega leader expressed regret over this timeline, noting the trial could take place “in the middle of the electoral campaign and debates” among the various candidates for Belém, accusing the action’s proponents of attempting to “judicialize political life and achieve in court or through the secretariat or the National Election Commission what they cannot achieve at the polls, what they cannot achieve in political debate.”
The candidate for the presidency in the upcoming January elections claimed his “political freedom” is at stake and refused that it could be influenced by others, stating that voters will make their choice on January 18.
