Ana Gomes, a political commentator, shared her analysis on the violent unrest that occurred last week in Torre Pacheco, Murcia, Spain, during her segment on Sunday nights on SIC Notícias.
She expressed concern that similar incidents might occur in Portugal due to the increasing episodes of racism and xenophobia in the country.
When asked about the State of the Nation debate, Gomes seized the opportunity to address the issue, admitting her displeasure with current developments.
“I returned from a trip to Timor-Leste and Japan and found a gloomy atmosphere filled with malice. The events in Torre Pacheco, Murcia, involved organized, racist militias targeting immigrants who are essential for the local economy. Simultaneously, there is a normalization of far-right discourse. Just yesterday on SIC Notícias, a member of Chega spoke of the ‘great replacement,’ ‘remigration,’ and ‘deportation,’ etc., while observing the government of Luís Montenegro normalize this rhetoric. This includes an agreement, as André Ventura describes, confirmed by Minister Abreu Amorim, concerning immigration and nationality issues,” she emphasized.
Ana Gomes strongly believes that the Aliança Democrática (AD) administration and Chega aim to “restrict fundamental human rights,” citing the “family reunification” issue as an essential condition for immigrant integration, similar to the experiences of Portuguese emigrants.
“This environment is creating conditions that could lead to similar incidents as in Torre Pacheco within our borders. It’s a priority for many, disregarding social, political, and economic implications – especially considering sectors that rely heavily on immigrant labor – and the repercussions for Portuguese emigrants, as some countries may retaliate,” she cautioned, urging President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to intervene.
“I believe it’s crucial that the President of the Republic does not accept the proposed changes to the nationality law, especially as these were introduced without consultation or the necessary evaluations, and should refer them to the Constitutional Court,” she urged.
It should be noted that last week, a series of riots, sparked by racist and xenophobic actions, took place in Torre Pacheco, Murcia, Spain, leading to more than a dozen arrests.
During those days, besides targeting immigrants, extremists also pursued journalists.
In Portugal, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Carlos Abreu Amorim, confirmed in an interview with radio station Observador the existence of a preliminary agreement with Chega on nationality law.
The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Carlos Abreu Amorim, clarified on Saturday that “no agreement has longevity” with Chega, following his admission of a “preliminary agreement” with André Ventura’s party. Consequently, the PS Secretary-General, José Luís Carneiro, urged the Prime Minister to “tell the truth.”
Daniela Filipe | 08:32 – 20/07/2025
The official thus validated remarks made by Chega leader André Ventura, which were contradicted by the Prime Minister during the State of the Nation debate.
It’s worth recalling that Montenegro’s government seeks to implement stricter nationality law provisions, having recently proposed changes to nationality law. They also aim to tighten regulations for those wishing to live in Portugal, proposing amendments to the foreigners’ law. The proposed changes are detailed here.
Read Also: Torre Pacheco. A hundred extremists pursued journalists during a protest
