Latest news and stories about political debate in Portugal for expats and residents.
Pacheco Pereira challenged André Ventura to a debate after the Chega leader claimed that 'shortly after the 25th of April there were more political prisoners than there were before the 25th of April 1974'.
The 11-candidate presidential debate, held in two instalments across three topics, was overshadowed by a sustained personal clash between PSD’s Marques Mendes and independent candidate Henrique Gouveia e Melo. Mendes publicly rejected allegations of impropriety — insisting “I am not a facilitator of business deals” — and branded parts of the admiral’s conduct as “vulgarity,” a dispute that punctuated exchanges throughout the evening. Amid this confrontation, Jorge Pinto’s near withdrawal and his declaration that he would not stand in the way of a potential Seguro victory illustrated how interpersonal attacks and tactical moves risked eclipsing substantive policy debate.
The RTP debate — the only one to include all 11 candidates — centred on personalised attacks and contrasting styles. Ventura and José Seguro were frequent targets while Rui Rio’s former ally Mendes emerged as the most aggressive, clashing chiefly with Admiral Gouveia e Melo; the two men’s exchange became the debate’s defining confrontation. Other notable dynamics included mutual restraint between Almirante and the Chega leader, André Pestana’s bold interventions, Manuel João Vieira’s ironic tone, and even criticism directed at Marcelo, suggesting a campaign increasingly shaped by personality and tactical barbs rather than detailed policy battles.
The President of Parliament rejected the idea that his speech at the 25th of April solemn session – which led Pedro Delgado Alves to turn his back on him – could constitute a defence of less transparency.
José Pedro Aguiar Branco gave a speech at the April 25th ceremonies and it has not stopped generating reactions. Was the President of the Assembly of the Republic unfair, biased, or did he simply tell the truth?
The President of the Republic declared himself an opponent of the AD's anti-transparency intention.
Parliament marked the 52nd anniversary of April 25th this Saturday. Calls for the defeat of the labour package and the fight against populism dominated the speeches.
During the solemn session of the 25th of April, André Ventura, leader of Chega, wore a green carnation to represent the Portuguese emigrant community, sparking debate. He argued that April is not just about the 'captains of April' but for all citizens, while criticizing the focus on liberation movements. In response, PSD parliamentary leader Hugo Soares stated that April belongs to Portugal, not to specific political symbols, and called for moderation against extremism and division. Meanwhile, PS secretary-general José Luís Carneiro reflected on the legacy of the Colonial War and the dictatorship, emphasizing the need to combat populism through education and addressing persistent social inequalities.
The 25th of April commemorations at the Assembly of the Republic began with speeches from minority parties. The session highlighted deep ideological divides, ranging from criticisms of political stagnation and the 'hijacking' of democratic ideals to warnings against revisionist narratives and the rise of hate speech in political discourse.
The Left Bloc MP began by greeting the members of the Constituent Assembly and stated that democracy forces us “to put up with one another.”
The author critiques the common political adage 'Never wrestle with a pig; you both get dirty, and the pig likes it,' arguing that it is an excuse for cowardice and intellectual laziness. By dehumanizing political opponents as 'pigs,' democrats mirror the very tactics they condemn in populists and extremists. The author contends that refusing to debate these figures in the media is a failure of duty, and that democrats must instead put in the hard work of preparing arguments to counter manipulation and falsehoods, rather than attacking those who attempt to engage in such debates.
Santos Pereira decided to give his opinion on a sector he does not supervise and enter the political debate. But he is absolutely right.
A section of a newspaper or publication featuring correspondence from readers.
To prove to us that he does not think what I believe he thinks, António Araújo, acting as if he were in a school playground, pulled from his pocket evidence of his courageous, almost-but-not-quite anti-reparations thoughts.
The Socialist Party (PS) secretary-general says that 'the democratic right is on a slope' sliding 'towards the far-right'.
I do not believe it was worth Pacheco Pereira proposing to “debate” with the brazenly ignorant person who leads the far-right. The shouted crudities and the use of interruptions as a weapon all advised against it. Opinion by Amadeu Lopes Sabino.
“I am very happy with what I did and if it were today I would do it again.” José Pacheco Pereira defends without reservation his decision to challenge André Ventura to a debate and rejected criticism from those who believe the historian lost by accepting the head-to-head broadcast by CNN Portugal on the night of April 13th, after Ventura insisted on the thesis that there were more “political prisoners” after the 25th of April than on the eve of the revolution, a statement that Pacheco Pereira publicly classified as an “absurd comparison.” The historian responded to the metaphor, repeated in recent days in opinion pieces and social media comments, that “one should never wrestle with a pig,” a formula used by various observers to criticise the tone of the confrontation with the Chega leader, with commentators arguing that the head-to-head ended up dragging Pacheco Pereira into Ventura's preferred territory. However, the former PSD leader rejects this conclusion, stating that the idea that one should not lower oneself is rooted in fear, and argues that history shows that one cannot allow certain things to be said without a reaction.
Dear Pacheco Pereira, with André Ventura one does not ask for permission to speak; one speaks directly and without uncertainty. With André Ventura, is it possible to shift to moralistic discourse? Never! Opinion by Luís Farinha
An analysis of the televised debate between Pacheco Pereira and André Ventura, arguing that Pacheco Pereira made a strategic error by granting Ventura intellectual equivalence. The author contends that Ventura is an opportunistic demagogue rather than a true fascist, and that the only real winner of the encounter was the host channel, CNN Portugal, as Pacheco Pereira's reliance on facts and rationality failed against Ventura's performative style.
The author argues that engaging in a debate with three individuals who hold views similar to Salazar is futile.
The debate was never going to go well. It didn't, but it also proved one thing: if television is what forces Pacheco Pereira to tell half-truths, why shouldn't the same excuse apply to Ventura?
The Constitution should not be an ideological weapon against anyone, and for that very reason, Portugal continues to need a non-socialist Constitution.
The CMTV commentator believes that the Chega leader was given prominence during the debate initiated by Pacheco Pereira.
Rui Paulo Sousa, from the Chega party, analyses the debate that brought André Ventura and historian José Pacheco Pereira face-to-face this Monday.
Álvaro Beleza, a commentator for CNN Portugal, analyses the debate that brought the leader of Chega and historian José Pacheco Pereira face-to-face this Monday.
Pedro Tadeu, a commentator for CNN Portugal, analyses the debate that brought the leader of Chega and historian José Pacheco Pereira face-to-face this Monday.
Bruno Batista, a commentator for CNN Portugal, analyses the debate that brought the leader of Chega and historian José Pacheco Pereira face-to-face this Monday.
Historian and CNN Portugal commentator José Pacheco Pereira issued the challenge to André Ventura, who accepted. The debate on the historical memory of the period before and after the 25th of April lasted over an hour. This is the full debate, the transcript of some moments, and video excerpts of the highlights of a debate that all of Portugal is talking about.
André Ventura and Pacheco Pereira held a debate on Portugal's colonial past. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, the US Vice President says “the ball is in Iran's court” regarding negotiations.
