Journalist filed a complaint with PSP for assault at an event with Andre Ventura

An Expresso journalist who said he was attacked on Tuesday at an event at the Catholic University attended by Chegi’s leader has already filed a complaint with the Public Security Police (PSP), the newspaper’s director told Luse.

João Vieira Pereira, director of Expresso, told Lusa that such a complaint was submitted this Wednesday to the PSP.

On Tuesday, a journalist said he was attacked at an event attended by Chegi leader Andre Ventura at the Catholic University, but the organization denied this, admitting only that the professional was “removed” from the hall.

The alleged aggression took place at an event called “Parliamentary Conversations”, organized by the Academic Association of the Institute of Political Studies and the Academic Association of Law of the Portuguese Catholic University, in which President Chegi took part as part of a series of lectures to which several party leaders were invited.

Chegi’s call for the event the day before (Monday the 15th) limited entry to the hall to only reporters (“cameras”), without, however, mentioning the presence of other journalists.

Speaking to Lusa, Joao Dias, president of the Academic Association of the Institute of Political Studies, one of the people in charge of the event, said on Tuesday that the lecture was “closed to the media.”

According to news published by Expresso, the journalist claims that his entry into the room where Andre Ventura was “was authorized by two young women who were located next to the main door of the room.”

According to a report published by the weekly, after event organizers approached him several times asking him to leave the hall, “two young men stopped his movements, grabbed his legs and arms, forcing him to leave the event… leaving all his work equipment in the room, including a professional computer,” which was returned “after the intervention of one of Andre Ventura’s advisers.”

According to the weekly, Andre Ventura’s personal security guard also “aggressively” approached the journalist.

Regarding the associations, the person in charge, Joao Dias, denied any aggression and said that the journalist was “removed” from the hall after members of the organization approached him “five times” and asked him to leave the premises.

This Wednesday, Chega denied responsibility for the entry and expulsion of the Expresso journalist, indirectly shifting it to the organizers.

IL and PAN leaders have already attended the event, and in both cases, both sides had previously informed the press that media would not be allowed at the event, demonstrating their willingness to make statements upon arrival.

Expresso management has already rejected “any form of coercion and obstruction in journalistic work,” saying that “it will take appropriate action to determine responsibility and prevent the recurrence of such actions,” expressing “unconditional support for its journalist.” , who was not allowed to do his job freely.”