Parliament joins legal fight over alleged assault on Chega leader's office

On Wednesday the Assembly of the Republic declared it will serve as an assistant in the criminal proceedings concerning the alleged intrusion and theft at the office of Chega leader André Ventura. The decision, communicated through a letter from José Pedro Aguiar-Branco’s office, cites a request submitted by the parliament to participate in the case involving possible crimes of unlawful entry, qualified theft and damage to parliamentary property.

Pro bono representation will be provided by lawyer José António Barreiros at no cost to the institution. The move follows Ventura’s public statements that his office was vandalized, with cabinets opened and documents left on the floor, and that two USB drives and other items disappeared. The police’s National Counter-Terrorism Unit subsequently gathered evidence, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an inquiry, later described as urgent by the Attorney General. In early September the Assembly unanimously authorized written testimonies from Ventura and Chega deputies Francisco Gomes and Paulo Seco.