PS proposes changes to MPs' code of conduct to punish insults
Socialist MP Ana Sofia Antunes said that Chega members directed offensive remarks at her, including calling her a “freak,” “drug addict” and even “you look like a dead woman.”
The Socialist Party (PS) is pushing for changes to the Parliamentary code of conduct to curb what it describes as continuous attacks from the far-right Chega party.
PS parliamentary leader Alexandra Leitão announced the proposal, aiming to introduce penalties for offensive insults in parliamentary sessions.
Leitão condemned what she called a new low in Chega’s behavior, referencing recent verbal attacks against Ana Sofia Antunes, a visually impaired PS MP.
During a debate on the inclusion of students with special needs in higher education, the Chega bench hurled several insults at the visually impaired Socialist MP Ana Sofia Antunes.
During an interview on SIC Notícias’ Edição da Noite, Antunes stated that Chega members directed offensive remarks at her, including calling her a “freak,” “drug addict” and even “you look like a dead woman.”
She emphasized that such insults were not an isolated incident, asserting that “everyone in Parliament knows this is not the first time.”
“Yesterday (Thursday, February 13), in the plenary of the Assembly of the Republic, I was disrespected as a disabled person. I’m a disabled person, I’m congenitally blind, I’ve lived with this condition for 43 years and I’m very proud of who I am. But that (the insults) in itself would be serious, but more serious is the fact that all disabled people have been offended, labelled as incapable, inept or incompetent. And that’s what we can’t accept,” said Ana Sofia Antunes.
“Masters of Offense and Insult”
Antunes accused specific Chega MPs - Filipe Melo, Pedro Frazão, and Rita Matias - of engaging in repeated verbal attacks.
The controversy escalated after Chega MP Diva Ribeiro suggested that Antunes “only manages to intervene in matters that, unfortunately, involve disability,” a statement widely condemned as discriminatory.
Antunes responded by highlighting her extensive parliamentary contributions beyond disability-related topics.
“This was the first time I intervened on a disability-related matter,” she said, countering claims that her role was limited to such discussions.
She further defended her expertise, stating, “I have a curriculum that speaks for itself. I have worked in various areas, including security, migration, nationality, and European affairs.”
Calls for Reform and Accountability
The Socialist Party has called for stricter enforcement of parliamentary conduct rules and has urged Assembly President José Pedro Aguiar-Branco to take action.
Alexandra Leitão, the leader of the PS parliamentary group, denounced the Chega party for “grave and ignoble” insults, accusing them of “defamation, bullying, harassment, intimidation, and verbal abuse.”
She urged Assembly President José Pedro Aguiar-Branco to formally apologize to Antunes for the insults allegedly directed at her by Chega members.
Aguiar-Branco acknowledged that the remarks were “offensive and injurious” but expressed skepticism about implementing sanctions.
He argued that voters should hold MPs accountable rather than imposing formal disciplinary measures.
“It is up to the electorate to pass judgment on such behavior,” he stated, advocating instead for a “pedagogical” approach to improving parliamentary decorum.
Broader Implications
The incident has fueled broader debates on the need for parliamentary reforms to address misconduct.
Other political parties, including Livre and PAN, have expressed support for revising the parliamentary code of conduct to introduce sanctions for repeated violations.
With the controversy continuing to unfold, pressure is mounting on the Portuguese Parliament to ensure that debates remain respectful and inclusive, preventing the recurrence of discriminatory attacks against MPs.
Childish insults aside ... if the person with a disability doesn't stand up for something affecting those with disabilities, who will? Isn't that the point of representative governance?
Are people who are voting for Chega candidates really okay with this bullying behavior? Will these cruel individuals who are acting like misbehaving children be held accountable by their voters?
Or, is it like the United States where depending on where you live, your options for local candidates are "limited"? There is a saying in the United States: There are places where voters choose their political representatives and there are more places (due to gerrymandering) where political representatives choose their voters.