Major Controversies Arise as Portugal's Internal Minister Addresses Police Operations and Immigration Concerns

Minister Regrets Focus on Martim Moniz Incident

The Minister of Internal Administration expressed concern that the only topic of discussion is the police operation at Martim Moniz, stating, "It's strange, there have been over a thousand police actions, and why is only this one being talked about?" She questioned who is manipulating the narrative, asserting that "it's certainly not us."

BE Questions Immigration as a National Threat

Fabian Figueiredo from the Left Bloc (BE) inquired whether the Minister sees immigrants as a "threat to national security." The Minister responded that she does not link immigration with crime and emphasized that "crime is crime." She found the insinuation to be almost a personal offense.

Minister Insists on Non-Instrumentalization of Police Actions

Figueiredo also asked about the indicators the government uses to gauge public feelings of insecurity, given the government's directive to "hyper-govern" police actions. The Minister reiterated that "it is the police forces and ASAE that provide these indicators and develop the operational strategy. We do not instrumentalize these operations."

Advancements in Bodycam Implementation

The Minister announced "advances" in the adjudication of bodycams for police use, stating that a Supreme Administrative Court ruling confirmed the decision of a lower court regarding a public tender related to police video surveillance and bodycams. She indicated that they could now proceed to the next steps.

Ongoing Investigation into Odair Moniz's Death

The Minister revealed that investigations into the possible criminal and disciplinary responsibilities surrounding the death of Odair Moniz are still ongoing, and she awaits the results before making further comments. She condemned the "unacceptable" destruction of property, describing the past week as "tragic."

Chega Questions Uniqueness of Martim Moniz Operation

Deputy Vanessa Barata from Chega clarified that her party does not view immigrants as enemies, but rather "bandits and criminals." She raised questions about the police operation at Martim Moniz, seeking clarity on whether it was unprecedented or part of ongoing actions. Another Chega deputy, Patrícia Carvalho, cited statistics indicating a rise in insecurity, arguing that the increase in crime cannot be solely linked to immigration due to the lack of nationality data in security reports.

Blasco: Police Actions Not Voluntary

Margarida Blasco emphasized that police do not act on their own accord, referencing 52 complaints from residents and workers in the area, which prompted the police to seek authorization for the operation from the Public Ministry.

PSD Denies Linking Immigration to Crime

António Rodrigues from PSD sought to "demystify" the association of immigration with criminality, asserting that neither the government nor PSD has ever made that connection. He expressed that the police did not overreact during the Martim Moniz operation, calling the scene of people being searched "normal."

Minister Acknowledges Increase in Hate Crimes

The Minister concurred with Deputy Isabel Moreira regarding the rise in "hate crimes" in Portugal and stressed the need for active measures to combat this issue, including educational initiatives in schools. She acknowledged the need for "proximity police" to address public safety effectively, noting a previous lack of investment in police resources.

Clarifying Police Operations

The Minister clarified that the operation at Martim Moniz was a response to "criminal indications" in the area, such as knife use, and that judicial authorities monitored the searches without finding any irregularities. She emphasized that the operation was not mandated by the government but was based on existing indicators.

Moreira Critiques Police Visibility

Isabel Moreira questioned the rationale behind the police's visible presence on the streets, arguing that if there were no indications of criminality, the actions could be seen as humiliating for the targeted immigrants.

Accusations of Political Manipulation

The PCP accused the government of using security forces for political gain, referencing a recent press conference by the Prime Minister that aimed to enhance public perception of security through continued police actions. They argued that such "spectacular" actions often have the opposite effect.

Calls for Clarification on Bodycam Installation

Chega's Vanessa Barata highlighted ongoing vandalism in Lisbon and questioned the status of bodycam installations for police, linking it to recent violent incidents.

Livre Demands Justification for Operations

Deputy Paulo Muacho from Livre raised concerns about the "assumptions, necessity, and proportionality" of the police operation in Martim Moniz, criticizing the government's justification for recent high-profile police actions.

Bloco de Esquerda's Allegations of Political Instrumentalization

The Left Bloc accused the government of manipulating security forces for political ends, with Deputy Fabian Figueiredo criticizing the lack of tangible results from operations like the one in Rua do Benformoso, which involved targeting immigrants. He referred to the existence of "sheriffs" in politics meddling in security matters.