The President of the Republic defended this Monday that it is unfair to punish a class for the behavior of a “very small” group of teachers who have “radicalized their behavior”, adding that “it doesn’t offend anyone, it offends those who can.” .
“I think that a very small minority of teachers who have radicalized their behavior cannot be confused, but I have been saying for a long time that there is a risk for a minority of teachers who have to radicalize attacks,” said Marcelo Rebelo. de Souza after being asked on the sidelines of popular marches in Lisbon about the controversy surrounding posters displayed during a protest by teachers who took advantage of June 10 to demonstrate in Peso da Régua and which António Costa deemed “a little racist”.
For Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa “the vast majority of teachers have nothing to do with the behavior of a minority”, recalling that he was also in Peso da Régua and that he saw “out of 200 teachers (…) 20 or 30 with a certain type of behavior “.
The President of the Republic emphasized that it would be unfair “to punish a class for the behavior of a very small group within the class.”
“The government will be the first to know that when considering the issue of teachers, this is not what serves as an argument in favor of having a more or less favorable position towards teachers,” he stressed.
Asked if the images on the posters that were present at the protest were racist, the head of state said that “this does not offend anyone, it offends everyone who can.”
“It means that there is only a true insult that has a status to offend. Status means that really, when you do what you do, you think of a greater good, ”he added.
Marcelo Rebelo de Souza also stressed that at the teachers’ protest on June 10, he also saw T-shirts with slogans alluding to him, which ensured that he was not offended.
“They didn’t say that, but they were. (…) They don’t offend me, because the point is not who wants, but who can,” he said.
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.