“A betrayal of Portugal”: Chega presents a vote of condemnation of Marcelo’s words about reparations for colonialism

André Ventura’s party considers the President of the Republic’s proposal “impractical” and “insulting to Portugal and the Portuguese people, as it does not consider a series of historical, economic and social realities”

Chega will present a vote to condemn the President of the Republic for his statements on reparations for colonialism.

In a statement released to the press, Chega classifies Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s words as “a betrayal of Portugal, the Portuguese people and the history of Portugal itself”.

“And they represent a betrayal because the proposal for compensation and financial reparations to the former colonies does not adequately and impartially consider the complexity of historical relations, the development efforts already carried out by Portugal, the millions of Portuguese people highly harmed by the decolonization process and the potentially harmful consequences of such action”, the note reads.

André Ventura’s party considers the President of the Republic’s proposal “impractical” and “insulting to Portugal and the Portuguese people, as it does not consider a series of historical, economic and social realities”.

The “attempt to retroactively apply contemporary ethical standards to previous historical periods” and the “devaluation” of the investment made by Portugal in the former colonies, “often to the detriment of the metropolis itself”, are highlighted by Chega as mistakes made by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

The party also remembers the issue of returnees, “more than 600 thousand, who were forced to abandon their former colonies, often bringing only the clothes on their backs and leaving their entire lives behind.”

“These Portuguese, who contributed significantly to the development of the colonies, returned to a homeland that had little to offer them, and many still struggle with the consequences of this forced displacement. Intending to compensate and repair the former colonies without considering the losses of these citizens It is an act of atrocious injustice!”, Chega says in the statement, which similarly criticizes the way Marcelo treats ex-combatants.

“It ignores the personal sacrifice of these men and their families and perpetuates an injustice by not equally valuing all the protagonists of Portugal’s colonial history”, he states.

What did Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa say?

During a dinner with foreign press correspondents in Portugal, on April 23, the President of the Republic recognized Portugal’s responsibilities for crimes committed during the colonial era, suggesting the payment of reparations for past mistakes.

“We have to pay the costs. Are there actions that were not punished and those responsible were not arrested? Are there assets that were looted and were not returned? Let’s see how we can repair this”, said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, quoted by the Reuters agency.

At the event, the head of state said that Portugal “takes full responsibility” for the mistakes of the past and remembers that these crimes, including colonial massacres, had a cost.

However, the Portuguese Government denied the existence of any plans for a process of historical reparation for colonialism.

“Regarding the issue of reparation to these States and their people for the colonial past of the Portuguese State, it is important to emphasize that the current Government follows the same line as previous Governments”, said the executive in a statement. “There was and is not any process or program of specific actions for this purpose.”