The President of the Assembly of the Republic (AR), José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, considers that Chega "has the legitimacy to make the proposal" to accuse the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, of "treason to the homeland" due to statements about reparations to the former colonies, since "it has the necessary number of deputies to do so". In addition, he assured that, as a deputy, he knows "well" how he will vote.

"In democracy, all opinions are welcome, the mother is freedom of expression," stressed the President of the AR, who assured that "the situation must be resolved as quickly as possible".

Asked if he agrees with the position of the party led by André Ventura, Aguiar Branco assured: "As President of the Assembly of the Republic, I should not pronounce myself, as a deputy I know well how I will vote".

"I am, and will always be, a defender of the prestige and dignity of institutions," assured the President of the AR. Aguiar Branco assured that the decision will be voted on by Wednesday of next week, as he considers that "it would not be acceptable for doubts about Chega's proposal to remain in the public space".

When asked if he agrees with the issue of reparations, Aguiar-Branco said that "history is studied, history is respected and life shows that the relationship between peoples is made afterwards, between what is respect and what is the history that accompanies, even between countries that are now brothers, it is done naturally".

"I would not speak of reparations, I would speak of respect for what is the history of these countries and of Portugal. With this respect and this history, it is not difficult to find ways in which friendship and the strengthening of ties and what has to do with the future is done naturally," he stressed

"The Portuguese people expect solutions to their problems"

José Pedro Aguiar-Branco considered that the existence of a minority government in Parliament contributes to a reinforced centrality in political life.

For Aguiar-Branco, Parliament must "ensure that the democratic debate is conducted in the most balanced way possible". "Parliament exists to help find solutions. The Portuguese people expect solutions to their problems," he said.

Montenegro and Pedro Nuno? "They are men who like to take risks"

Regarding the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Luís Montenegro, and the Socialist Party (PS), Pedro Nuno Santos, Aguiar-Branco assured that "he knows them" and that they are "men who like to take risks".

As an example of these same risks, the President of the AR recalled the choice of the Democratic Alliance (AD) as the head of the European list, Sebastião Bugalho, and the vote of the former SCUT made by the PS.

"This liking for taking risks by the two largest parties will be to take the risk of reaching consensus," he considered, also recalling that his own election as President of Parliament was the result of an understanding between the Government and the PS.

[News updated at 11:47 pm]

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