President agrees to meet CHEGA leader over alleged ministerial threats

Portugal’s head of state, António José Seguro, has agreed to meet will CHEGA leader André Ventura tomorrow following the party’s urgent request over allegations that Interior Minister Luís Neves threatened Ventura during a parliamentary debate.

The meeting is scheduled for 5.30pm, writes noticiasaominuto.

In a statement, CHEGA said it would use the meeting to stress “the seriousness of the situation” and the need to safeguard “the rule of law, the proper functioning of democratic institutions, democratic oversight and the freedom of the opposition to carry out its work”.

The allegations stem from a parliamentary debate on May 27, during which Ventura questioned the government over the SIRESP emergency communications network.

CHEGA claims that while Ventura was speaking, Neves made threatening remarks directed at him. To support its accusation, the party published a video clip from the parliament’s ARTV broadcast on social media (almost two months later), adding subtitles that it said reflected the minister’s comments.

However, the minister’s words are not audible in the footage – and he himself has said CHEGA’s interpretation is nonsense.

André Ventura said yesterday that he had initially dismissed the incident as “the heat of the moment”, but later decided to act after receiving what he described as “more serious reports of threats and abuse of power” allegedly involving the Interior Minister.

These almost certainly involve the latest ‘scandal’ broken by Nascer do Sol about building work at a property in Odemira, which Neves has already attempted to address.

Notwithstanding the minister’s explanations, a journalist involved in the Nascer do Sol investigation has complained that she and her photographer colleague were ‘chased’ in their car, after leaving Neves’ Odemira property, where they had been taking photographs.

According to Correio da Manhã, the pair were inside the property, which activated the CCTV system, and “led to the minister’s son travelling to the property and confronting the two journalists”.

Neves did appear to refer to this intrusion as being one of the ‘collateral aspects’ of the situation, “with criminal overtones”.

He has told NOW television station that he may consider legal action, as he believes both Nascer do Sol and the two reporters “overstepped legal and ethical issues”.

Aside from the allegations of a potentially dangerous four-wheeled pursuit, other news channels have today been publishing drone footage of the minister’s Odemira property, suggesting the local council has never received any requests for the building work undertaken.

Source material: noticiasaominuto/ Correio da Manhã

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.