Political Genocide? André Ventura's Bold Challenge to Support Police in Portugal

André Ventura, the leader of Portugal's third most voted party, Chega, recently visited the Martim Moniz neighborhood in Lisbon, where he made a striking statement about a so-called 'political genocide' against the PSP (Public Security Police). Ventura urged politicians to stand in solidarity with the police instead of criticizing them.

Ventura emphasized that a segment of the political landscape understands the necessity for police actions in areas plagued by drugs, crime, prostitution, and illegal immigration. He condemned the notion that all police officers are racist and stated that actions taken by the police should not be unjustified.

He further argued, “Just as the police do not instruct journalists on how to perform their jobs, journalists should refrain from telling the police how to do theirs.” Ventura pointed out that the police were executing judicial mandates, which some found unfavorable. He remarked on the importance of visible policing.

During a police operation last Thursday in Martim Moniz, authorities detained two individuals and confiscated nearly €4,000 in cash, along with weapons, documents, a phone, and counterfeit items. The heavy police presence in an area with many immigrants sparked social media discussions, showing images of individuals lined against a wall with their hands raised for police searches, raising questions about the necessity of such measures.