The parliamentary session resumed today after the summer break with a heated verbal clash initiated by the president of Chega, who linked the PS and PSD parties to corruption for rejecting an inquiry into wildfires.
The persistent interventions by André Ventura and the ensuing uproar led the President of the Assembly of the Republic to intervene multiple times, even cautioning that his patience was limited. The situation provoked strong responses from PSD parliamentary leader Hugo Soares and PS leader Eurico Brilhante Dias.
During the debate, Ventura, aware of the PSD’s agreement with the PS on forming an independent technical commission on fires and their rejection of his proposal for a parliamentary inquiry, argued that the social democrats and socialists were united to prevent accountability for those responsible for fires and those who benefit economically from them. He accused them of 50 years of corruption and claimed the PSD was shielding the PS.
Eurico Brilhante Dias perceived Ventura’s “offensive” action against the PS and PSD regarding the wildfire issue as a strategy to conceal something, specifically whether Chega had received funding from Helibravo, a company reportedly under investigation. He suggested Ventura might have connections in the wildfire affair.
Ventura quickly denied his party had received funding from Helibravo, retorting that the PS was the one with ties to figures like Paulo Pedroso, Ferro Rodrigues, Manuel Pinho, or José Sócrates. He claimed the PS has been financially bloated since its founder Mário Soares, with money from Macau or Angola.
Ventura also stated that Mário Soares, after the April 25, 1974 revolution, “sent white colonists to the sharks.”
Following these comments, the President of the Assembly highlighted Soares’ role in defending political pluralism in Portugal, noting that Ventura speaks freely today “also because of Mário Soares” and his efforts for freedom in the country’s recent history.
Addressing both the PS and PSD, Ventura used harsh language, accusing the social democrats of coddling the PS, which he said embodies “corruption.” He told Hugo Soares he wasn’t afraid of the PSD, countering that social democrats feared a parliamentary fire inquiry because it would reveal who profits from the fires.
Hugo Soares countered, reminding Ventura that a Chega affiliate in Vendas Novas, Évora, was caught setting fires. From a political standpoint, Soares accused Ventura of stirring chaos in parliament solely for social media traction.
The PSD parliamentary leader also criticized Ventura’s conduct in various debates, noting Ventura often gestures publicly using a sign that insinuates theft.
“I don’t know if he’s ordering a Big Mac. But if he’s accusing someone with a gesture suggesting stealing, harming, or undermining legality, André Ventura should assume responsibility, as such conduct is unbecoming for a presidential candidate,” he warned.
Ventura’s reaction escalated in intensity and scope, accusing a fourth-row PSD deputy of having once run over a child with a car, which outraged several social democrat deputies.
Hugo Soares then explained the deputy had an “unfortunate” incident involving a child, with no legal repercussions resulting.
“But this parliament knows if anyone understands legal proceedings and convictions, it’s André Ventura. As long as there are institutions, rule of law, and democracy, the PSD will not allow any deputy like André Ventura to offend its honor,” the social democratic leader added.
The President of the Assembly sought to close the discussion with a reminder: “We have a Code of Conduct and a duty to engage in parliamentary activities with civility and institutional loyalty. We must refrain from actions that discredit the parliamentary institution,” he concluded.
