Political Showdown: Chega Demands Plenary Session to Replay Alleged Threat Video Against PSD Leader

Chega Appeals Parliamentary Decision on Hugo Soares Complaint

Chega will appeal to the plenary the decision by the Parliamentary Commission on Transparency and Deputies' Status that dismissed a complaint filed by deputy Pedro Frazão against the parliamentary leader of the PSD, Hugo Soares. The complaint accused Soares of making threats of physical violence.

André Ventura, president of Chega, announced this move in statements to journalists before a "meeting with mayors and candidates in Loures" for the municipal elections on October 12. This campaign event was closed to the media.

Ventura stated, "Chega will appeal the decision that was made and will take this to the plenary of the Assembly of the Republic, so that the images are played again in the plenary and so that everyone can see and hear" what Hugo Soares said.

The PSD parliamentary leader had demanded an apology from André Ventura after Ventura published a video that Soares claimed was based on a distortion of his words.

Ventura refused to apologize to the PSD secretary-general and insisted on the allegation that the social democrat threatened his bench, saying there are "several witnesses" from his party who "heard the same word."

"The leader of the PSD parliamentary bench physically threatened Chega deputies. Everyone heard it, those who were in the front line. Chega will have the opportunity to show this and to bring these deputies to show and say what they heard," he affirmed, arguing that "no one better than the Chega deputy would hear the deputy Hugo Soares."

André Ventura also criticized the parliamentary staff who are in the center of the plenary recording the interjections, accusing them of partiality. "They only note the offenses that come from one bench and do not note those from the others," he maintained.

The Chega leader again criticized the media, accusing them of "whitewashing" this case.

The Parliamentary Transparency Commission rejected this complaint on Monday, filed by Chega deputy Pedro Frazão, which alleged that the president of the social democratic bench had promised him "beatings."

However, through recordings by parliament's services, it was concluded that Hugo Soares spoke of "addresses" and not "beatings," which is why the Chega deputy's complaint was archived.