The head of the AD list, Sebastian Bugalho, said this Friday that, despite the demonstrations that interrupted the speech of the President of the European Commission, the “defense of freedom of expression” has spoken louder.
“I was pleased to see that there was protection of freedom of speech,” said the head of the Democratic Alliance list in the European elections, answering a question from journalists about the protesters who interrupted the speech of the President of the European Commission.
Ursula von der Leyen joined the AD campaign on Thursday during her traditional visit to Santa Catarina, along with the PSD leader and head of the list.
While speaking at an AD rally, the European Commission President was interrupted by dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters calling for a “free Palestine.”
As a result, the protesters left the site, accompanied by elements of the PSP, with whom they got involved in clashes, and AD supporters tried to continue the rally with words of support from Ursula von der Leyen.
Despite the disrespect, Ursula von der Leyen tried to continue her speech, shouting to be heard despite the slogans of the protesters.
Sebastián Bugallo, who visited a student dormitory in Porto this Friday, said he was proud of the absence of “clashes between protesters and supporters of the Democratic Alliance.”
“There was no political confrontation. The event was not spoiled,” he said, noting that the messages conveyed at the rally survived “this small incident.”
“I’m on the side of the right to freedom of expression, I’m on the side of the right to demonstrate and I’m on the side of what was said on this stage, you can protest because fortunately we live in a democracy,” he added.