Chega president accused António Costa of tormenting himself by calling the posters put up by teachers on Saturday racist and assured that the party did not take part in the demonstration.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a visit to the Lisbon Book Fair, André Ventura began by stating that “this is not true” and that it was “an attempt by some political leaders as well as commentators and other trade unionists” to link Chega to the teachers’ protests on Saturday, at celebration on June 10, in Peso da Régua (Vila Real).
“Chega was not present and was not mobilized for these protests, Chega takes over when he wants to protest. In any case, I think the Prime Minister clearly wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and characterization of these posters to denigrate himself,” he accused. . We are talking about the controversy surrounding the posters displayed during the teachers’ protest, which took advantage of June 10 to demonstrate in Peso da Régua and which António Costa called “a little racist.”
The posters featured a caricature of the prime minister with a pig nose and a pencil stuck in each eye.
“I don’t understand how these posters convey any expression of racism or any issue related to people with racist people. This is a more esoteric, more daring self-sacrificing poster,” he criticized.
Ventura, I will add that he himself was represented in cartoons in newspapers, at demonstrations or carnival parades.
“It’s not only funny when opposition leaders are attacked, but it should also be funny when the prime minister is attacked,” he said, accusing Costa of showing himself “tempered and unable to respond to criticism.”
Upon arrival at the official military ceremonies for the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities, which were held this year in the city of Regua in Vila Real district, the wife of Prime Minister Fernanda Tadeu was delighted by some of the teachers’ comments in protest.
At first, António Costa asked the woman not to respond to the comments, but then he turned and shouted “racist”, obviously flustered.
Later, in statements to the people who were waiting for him, the prime minister considered that the protests were “part of freedom and democracy.”
“Best taste, worst taste, these slightly racist posters, but that’s all, that’s life,” he stressed.
About two dozen people, including most of the Chega members, accompanied André Ventura this Monday during his visit to the Lisbon Book Fair, which he said was intended to “support” this initiative and demonstrate that Lisbon “is not just a massive tourism and hotels.
“We have an obligation to be on the side of the culture and spaces that make Lisbon what it is,” he said.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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