Ventura says Chega complied with social media disclosure law

Chega President Andre Ventura said on Monday that the party acted “within the law” regarding the accusation of spreading disinformation on its social media, denying that it had committed any “illegal acts.”

At a press conference at the party headquarters in Lisbon, the Chega leader was asked about the involvement received by the Social Communications Regulatory Authority (ERC) in spreading false information on his page on the social network X (formerly Twitter), using graphics similar to “sites” newspapers Rádio Renascença and Público.

Last week, sources from the Renascença group and the newspaper Público told Lusa that they were the target of false news spread by André Ventura on social media.

Andre Ventura said the party is “responding to the ERC as it has reacted in the past, sometimes sensibly, sometimes less so”.

“We are absolutely aware that we acted within the law and that the law is on our side. We will await the decision of the ERC on this issue with complete calm,” he defended, repeating: “We will wait for the ERC to make a decision, when the ERC makes a decision, we will be here to comment on it. At the moment, our lawyers tell us that we are fully protected by the law, Chega did not commit any illegal actions.”

Ventura denied that it was fake news, pointing out that “they were from the Folha Nacional”, a newspaper created by the party and created by Chega employees and leaders.

The Chega leader claimed that this edition “now consists of three drawings with three sections”, despite the fact that there are no images on the Folha Nacional website like the one posted by André Ventura and on the party’s social media.

Some images published by Ventura are signed “redação” while on the party newspaper’s website they usually have “Folha Nacional” in the caption, and none of these publications has an associated link to the original article.

The photos that accompany these social media posts also do not match the photos posted with the articles on the Folha Nacional website.

As for the publication under the heading “Thousands of WYD subscribers are missing. Illegal Immigration, Expert Says” that appeared on Andre Ventura’s page with renaissance-like graphics, is not on the radio’s website and cannot be found in a general internet search.

At the press conference, the Chega leader also mentioned the new Mental Health Law, which ends the automatic extension of hospital stays for innocents and allows involuntary treatment, allowing the release of 46 innocents who have exceeded the maximum length of their sentence, with the permission of the courts.

Andre Ventura indicated that the party “asked today the Ministry of Health to provide a medical record” of these people, as well as a criminal record, asking if they are “under clinical conditions to return to the community” and if they pose “increased risk”. for all”. .

Despite indicating that this information would be sent “confidentially to Parliament”, President Chega said it was “important that the Portuguese know who is being released” as well as what crimes have been committed.

“Sex offenders, arsonists, murderers, murderers and others can only leave the hospital system when they are in a mental state to reintegrate into society,” he defended.