On Saturday, the Portuguese government led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro released a statement saying it has no intention of implementing a specific process or program to repair its former colonies. This stance contradicts President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s views, who has advocated for compensation for these countries. The government emphasized that it will continue to cooperate with previously colonized states as previous administrations have done but does not support any reparation projects.
President Rebelo de Sousa’s statements were criticized by the right-wing Chega party, led by André Ventura, who threatened to present a motion of censure against the government if any compensation project moved forward. The party expressed pride in Portugal’s history and saw the President’s words as a betrayal of the Portuguese people.
The discussion on reparations is expected to be debated in the Portuguese Parliament in the coming days, with left-wing parties indicating their intention to present proposals on the topic. The debate around this issue continues to evolve, with various political parties and leaders expressing differing views on the matter.
