Lisbon City Council Opposes Ergue-te's Martim Moniz Rally: Party Vows to Proceed Despite Ban

Lisbon's Mayor Carlos Moedas has officially opposed the far-right party Ergue-te's planned rally at Martim Moniz square, citing a PSP (Public Security Police) report that warns of a "real and founded risk of public order disturbance." The decision underscores the event's potential to disrupt the democratic coexistence and dignity of Lisbon's diverse communities.

Key Points from the PSP Report:

• The Martim Moniz area is home to significant Muslim and Hindu communities, with visible collective identities and religious practices.
• The planned display of a Christian cross and public consumption of pork—a food prohibited in several religions—was deemed provocative and potentially exclusionary.
• The PSP referenced a 2021 advisory opinion from the Attorney General's Office, emphasizing that assembly and demonstration rights are not absolute and must respect democratic coexistence and public order.

Ergue-te's Response: Despite the ban, Ergue-te leader Rui Fonseca e Castro declared the party "will not be intimidated" and plans to proceed with the rally, asserting their legal and moral right to demonstrate. The party's honorary president, José Pinto Coelho, echoed this defiance on social media, signaling the start of what he called the "second reconquest."

Mayor Moedas' Stand: Moedas reiterated that "in democracy, there are rules", emphasizing his commitment to law and order regardless of political extremism. This stance follows a previous unauthorized rally by Ergue-te on April 25, which led to clashes and arrests, including Fonseca e Castro and neo-Nazi activist Mário Machado.

The Bigger Picture: This confrontation highlights the ongoing tension between far-right movements and Lisbon's multicultural identity, testing the limits of free speech and public order in Portugal's capital.