Chega files a criminal complaint against Marcelo for “treason against the country”

André Ventura announced, this Tuesday afternoon, that Chega will move forward with a complaint for the crime of “treason against the country” against Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. At issue are the statements made by the head of state, at a dinner with foreign journalists, two weeks ago, about Portugal leading a process of historical reparations in the face of the period of colonialism, suggesting as an example the forgiveness of debts to former colonies.

“Chega took the decision today to move forward with a case against the President of the Republic, for betrayal of his country and for betrayal of our Constitution”, said the party leader, indicating that Chega took this decision “thinking of those who felt deeply affected, wronged and felt attacked by Marcelo’s words.

André Ventura argued that “never has a Portuguese head of State, in 900 years of history, decided to exercise self-responsibility for his soldiers, his Armed Forces, his citizens”, considering that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa “failed to represent the interest national and began to represent the interests of other States”.

“If we didn’t stand up today to say that this is wrong, that this is an attack and a betrayal of the country and the Constitution, we wouldn’t feel good about ourselves, even knowing the gravity of the moment, the gravity of the accusation and what will be the procedures that will have to be taken”, he argued, considering that “regardless of the legal issue, there is political censorship that could not fail to happen”.