Chega has presented to the Assembly of the Republic a project that recommends to the Government of the Republic the provision of detailed data on the nationality, place of birth, ethnicity, and situation of permanence in national territory of suspects and those convicted of committing crimes. The party’s objective is to ensure that internal security reports and justice statistics “more accurately portray Portugal’s criminal reality.”
The project alleges that the current Annual Report on Internal Security (RASI) “does not faithfully reflect criminal activity, omitting crucial information about the origin of those involved.” According to Chega, this gap prevents a detailed analysis of the relationship between crime and the increase in immigration, creating a perception that the party sees as artificial and forced.
The Madeiran deputy elected by Chega to the Assembly of the Republic, Francisco Gomes, argued that the security of citizens must be above any ideological taboo. For it is essential, that Portuguese nationals know who are responsible for the crimes committed within the territory, and whether or not they have links to migratory flows and foreign networks.”
Chega maintains that, although European legislation imposes restrictions on the processing of sensitive data, such as ethnic origin and nationality, there are exceptions provided for when the public interest is at stake. The party argues that public security and the definition of criminal policies “are national priorities that justify access to and analysis of this data.”
In a statement, Chega reiterated:
The lack of transparency in internal security reports only serves to hide the true dimension and origin of crime in Portugal. The government must have the courage to face reality and provide the necessary data for effective policies to be implemented, including in the field of immigration control. Francisco Gomes, deputy in the Assembly of the Republic
The Chega project also proposes that the Government of the Republic promote investigations of victimisation and self-revealed delinquency on a periodic basis, complementing RASI and allowing a more comprehensive portrait of crime in Portugal. The party considers that this initiative is essential to protect the interests of national citizens.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
