Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva decided to speak at the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal on Tuesday, 25, against the recommendation of allies.
Initially, the PT had warned that it would not participate in the celebration of the ‘Carnation Revolution’.
In the streets, a group of protesters gathered near the Parliament with placards and chanting against the Brazilian president.
“A thief’s place is in prison,” one of the banners read.
The protesters chanted phrases such as “There will be no picanha” and “Lula, thief, your place is in prison.”
The security scheme in the region was reinforced because of Lula’s presence in Portugal, and protective fences were installed to prevent confrontations.
The number of police officers working in the region was not disclosed.
At the Parliament, at least 11 members of the Chega party entered the premises after the arrival of Marcelo Rebelo da Silva, president of Portugal, and Lula.
In this way, they broke the protocol of the solemn ceremony to welcome the Brazilian.
The oppositionists also took posters to the ceremony.
The president of the Parliament, Augusto Santos Silva, apologized for the deputies’ behavior.
At the end of his speech, without mentioning Chega, Lula said:
“May God bless Portugal, bless Brazil, and long live freedom and democracy. And no to political and unjust fascism.”
With information from Revita Oeste
More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Read More from The Rio Times