“We have to transform the country through votes, through democracy, by convincing people with your work, with our work [from the media], with the work of movements and parliamentarians, convincing the population. We cannot transform democracy with any form of violence,” said André Ventura.
Speaking to journalists in parliament, on the sidelines of the debate on the Government’s program, the Chega leader was questioned about the dismantling of a far-right armed militia and the seizure of hundreds of munitions, military weapons, and explosives.
André Ventura expressed concern about “the rise of all groups, whether far-right, far-left, all violence” and congratulated “the authorities for their work” which led to the arrest of six people from the Armilar Lusitano Movement.
The president of Chega said he was not familiar with this movement.
“Chega has been the party that has most demanded more resources for the police, for the authorities, whether for the Judicial Police, the PSP, the GNR, or the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Therefore, we salute any action against any violence,” be it “left-wing, right-wing, centrist, international, national, it must be condemned,” he stated.
The president of Chega assured that the party would do everything “to guarantee to everyone that democracy will exist” and would fight “to the death” to ensure freedom of expression, including that of its opponents.
“I would never accept to represent Portugal, I would never accept any kind of power that was not given to me solely and exclusively by the free will of the people. And I hope everyone at home understands what I am saying. I think the message is clearer than ever,” he stated.
When asked about the Prime Minister’s response during the debate, who said he hoped André Ventura did not want to return to a time of dictatorship, the Chega leader considered it “a sad intervention by the Prime Minister.”
“The Prime Minister knows that we were born in democracy, Chega fought in democracy to be the second most represented party, fought in democracy to achieve the results it did. I think it is in very poor taste and in bad faith to question that Chega wants to return to the period before our last regime. What we want is to advance to another,” he asserted.
He explained that he wants a country “more democratic, freer, but where there are also fewer abuses and where there is more security, where there is more effective justice and where all those who fail know that they will have to be brought to justice, whether left-wing, right-wing.”
“In the new Republic we envision, there is no good violence and bad violence, all violence is condemnable,” he argued, indicating a desire for “a regime with even more freedom, but with more responsibility,” while warning that “freedom and libertinism are not the same thing.”
