PS Leader Assaulted Near Polling Station: Attacker Shouts 'Vote Chega'

Miguel Coelho, president of the Santa Maior Parish Council in Lisbon, reported being assaulted near a polling station. The incident, which he shared on his Facebook page, involved an individual who allegedly called him a 'friend of the Moors' before pushing him to the ground and shouting 'vote Chega'.

During a phone interview with Lusa, Coelho described the attack as happening while he was visiting polling stations to ensure the electoral process was running smoothly. "At one of the stations in Alfama, while greeting people in line to vote, a man started insulting me," he recounted. "Then, he pushed me in the face with an open hand and threw me to the ground."

Pedro Nuno Santos, leader of the PS, condemned the violence, emphasizing the importance of defending democracy and civic participation. "We must respond firmly to any form of violence. The Portuguese people do not identify with acts of violence; they respect others," Santos stated, urging citizens to vote in large numbers to address the country's challenges.

Reports suggest the assailant was an acquaintance of Coelho and possibly an employee of the Parish Council.