The President of the Assembly of the Republic said this Friday that he refuses to be a censor and limit the freedom of speech of deputies. This view was challenged by the PS, BE and Livre and received a standing ovation from the Chegi bench.
The incident in the industry debate with the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing began with the intervention of Chega leader Andre Ventura, who, questioning the ten years planned for the construction of the new airport, said the following: “We can be much better. than the Turks, Chinese, Albanians, in five years we will have an airport.”
“Istanbul airport was built and put into operation in five years, Turks are not exactly known as the hardest working people in the world,” Ventura began with a statement, amid protests from several benches when Aguiar-Branco asked them to leave the airport. he will continue his intervention because “the MP has freedom of expression.”
Immediately, the leader of the BE Parliament, Fabian Figueiredo, asked to speak to defend that “the attribution of characteristics and stereotypes to the people should have no place in the democratic debate of the Assembly of the Republic” and apologized to the Turkish ambassador.
In his response, the President of the Assembly of the Republic stated that he did not agree with this point of view.
“I disagree because democratic debate is about ensuring that everyone can express their opinion exactly the way they want. According to the Chairman of the Assembly, the work is being carried out to ensure the free expression of the opinions of all deputies. This has nothing to do with the fact that I personally think that I will not be a censor of any of the deputies,” he said.
Socialist Party parliamentary leader Alexandra Leitan also asked for the floor to ask: “If a certain group says that a certain race or ethnicity is dumber or lazier, that’s okay too.”
“In my opinion, it can. Freedom of expression is enshrined in the constitution. The assessment of political speeches made here in this house will be given by the people in the elections,” replied the chairman of the Assembly of the Republic.
Aguiar-Branco proposed that “if anyone believes that the intervention of the deputies should be censored, he should appeal the decision of the President of the Assembly.”
“And then the censorship will be done by the plenary session, it will not be me,” he said.
Isabel Méndez López, parliamentary leader of the Livre, asked to speak to emphasize that “racism is a crime” and that what is said in parliament “has direct consequences for people’s lives.”
“I will not continue this topic; the Assembly has many regulatory mechanisms to express its opinion. One thing is certain: I will never be someone who restricts freedom of expression,” Aguiar-Branco said in a speech that received a standing ovation from the Chega bench.
Ventura had previously strayed from the topic of the debate by criticizing the fact that the façade of the Assembly of the Republic was lit up this evening in honor of the National Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, saying that “Parliament has been hijacked by woke language.”
“I would really like to regret that all parties accepted this logic,” criticized Andre Ventura, while CDS-PP parliamentary leader Paulo Nuncio made it clear that his party was also against this parliamentary decision.
From Thursday evening to this Friday, the facade of the São Bento Palace was illuminated with a rainbow flag to fight prejudice and protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.
17 May also marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which aims to value equality between people, regardless of their sexual orientation, and to raise awareness of discrimination against LGBTI people.
Ventura said this Friday was also World Hypertension Day and was not observed by Parliament.
“We had Ex-Combatants’ Day, I didn’t see that façade lit up by medical workers or security forces,” he said.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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