Expresso reports today that parliamentary leaders of Portugal’s two main political parties (the PS and PSD) have instructed their MPs NOT to question colleagues from the country’s 3rd political force (right-wing Chega) when any of these speak in parliament. The strategy is designed to give Chega as little exposure as possible. Expresso says the new leader of the House, former foreign affairs minister Augusto Santos Silva, is also complicit in this approach, allowing Chega MPs to say whatever they have to say without entering into discussions on the views or ideas expressed, in stark contrast to his predecessor Ferro Rodrigues, who frequently challenged Chega leader André Ventura in the days when he was the only elected representative of his party in parliament.
