Recent statements by Marcelo on colonial reparations (and the reaffirmation in Cape Verde) have reignited the discussion. Among criticism and agreement, it is Chega's voice that has been heard the most. 

Thus, the parliamentary group of André Ventura's party will meet this Monday with a group of jurists and law professors to assess the possibility of opening a criminal case against the President of the Republic for “treason”.

This unprecedented initiative, CNN Portugal reports, will be based on article 130 of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic. The meeting, at the initiative of the parliamentary group's leadership, will take place outside São Bento.

Marcelo, who spoke to journalists on Sunday, could not have been more unshakeable: "Democracy is like that. Parties are free to take initiatives. That's life. It's part of democracy", he said.  

Hours later, at a press conference, André Ventura reaffirmed: "The President has politically committed treason against the Fatherland. If there were a political process of impeachment, I would start it. I don't think he deserves to be President of the Republic anymore".

For Chega to be able to open a criminal case against Marcelo, they would need 2/3 of Parliament, which means they would "always" need, as Ventura recalled, the Socialist Party and the Social Democratic Party. "From what I've heard, the PS and PSD have already said that they will not support such a matter", he said.

"I think the country has to resolve its historical conscience and this is the moment. And Chega is stronger than ever to be able to impose this vision. The country that Chega does not want to leave for the future is a country that has remorse for its history or that settles accounts with its history in order to say: 'We are responsible for what happened'. If it is a political signal, it can only have its strength too, but, as I say, I really want to hear from Chega's parliamentary group. And experts. I have received jurists and experts saying that it is possible. Others say no", he guaranteed.

It should be recalled that the President of the Republic, during a dinner with foreign correspondents in Portugal, stated that the country "has to pay the costs".

"Are there actions that have not been punished and those responsible have not been arrested? Are there goods that have been looted and have not been returned? Let's see how we can fix this", said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, quoted by the Lusa agency.

At the same event, Rebelo de Sousa said that Portugal "assumes full responsibility" for the mistakes of the past and recalls that these crimes, including colonial massacres, had costs.

Read Also: After all, reparations "are not and will not be on the agenda" in São Tomé (Portuguese version)