The Portuguese government led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has stated that they have no plans to implement a specific process or program aimed at repairing the country’s former colonies. This stance contradicts the views of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who has advocated for forms of compensation for former colonies. The government emphasized that they will continue to cooperate with previously colonized states as done by previous administrations but do not support any reparation projects.
President Rebelo de Sousa’s statements advocating for Portugal to lead the reparations process were criticized by the right-wing Chega party, led by André Ventura. The party threatened to present a motion of censure against the government if any compensation project moved forward. Chega expressed pride in Portugal’s history and stated that the President’s words were seen as a betrayal of the Portuguese people.
The discussion on reparations is expected to be debated in the Portuguese Parliament in the coming days, as left-wing parties indicate 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.