Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was speaking to journalists during his visit to the Lisbon Tourism Exchange (BTL), where, hours before, the president of the PSD, Luís Montenegro, was hit with green paint by a climate activist.
“The idea is a good idea, which is the climate and which we all share. […] It’s a good appeal, it’s an appeal from young people, now I think that from a certain point onwards it’s a very ineffective form of action”, considered the President of the Republic, flanked by the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Ulisses Correia and Silva.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stressed that demonstration is a right that belongs to everyone in a democracy, but considered that this form of action “frankly, has already lost its effectiveness”, as it is repetitive.
In recent months there have been several climate actions, with paint attacks on members of the Government, such as the Minister of the Environment, Duarte Cordeiro, or the Minister of Finance, Fernando Medina, among other initiatives carried out by activists.
Activists from the End to Fossil movement called for today's action in a statement, arguing that "no party has a plan suited to climate reality."
The student movement calls for an end to fossil fuels by 2030 and demands that we stop using gas to produce electricity by next year, using 100% renewable and free electricity instead.
Paint attacks reflect the immaturity of the protestors, and is a form of physical violence. Note that anyone can declare themselves an "activist", and are then free to let loose on any person, tradition or institution. This kind of behavior is anarchistic, and silly. I think the person attacked responded with dignity, an example other politically active person should take note of.
By steve from Other on 28 Feb 2024, 16:27
Whether you can or cannot attack somebody with paint depends very much upon what the cause is. Environment is always "good" as long as the paint is green. Imagine someone had poured red paint over a rabbi because of what is happening in Israel. The person would have been immediately arrested, put in front of a court charged with a "hate crime" and afterwards jailed for years.
By Tom from Lisbon on 29 Feb 2024, 08:54
Naive and can't see beyond the end of their nose. Probably threw temper tantrums as a young child to try to get their way. Unimpressive then....Unimpressive now.
By William from Other on 29 Feb 2024, 12:00