A sexist speaking, goes to Afghanistan, I even take off my clothes: what was not heard in the burqa debate

Particularly sensitive debate, with (even) more offenses in Parliament. Transcript confirms Rita Matias’ version.

The session in the Assembly of the Republic that led to the session in public spaces was particularly “hot”, with more exchanges of words – or insults – than usual.

Many asides they are not “picked up” by those watching, or in the galleries of São Bento, or by those listening on the radio or watching on television.

But Parliament has a service that captures and transcribes many moments that the average viewer doesn’t capture: .

In these transcriptions – very well put together by Sara Barros Leitão in the piece – there are phrases that not even the President of the Assembly of the Republic himself hears at the moment.

The plenary meeting on burqas (and beyond) took place on October 17th. As usual, the transcription was several days later, just last week.

Even before the “hot” topic of the burqa, when talking about the rights and well-being of the elderly, Rui Livre accused the PSD of preventing Livre’s charter on senior citizenship rights.

“It happened that the PSD made it unfeasible and the Government, shortly afterwards, presented the Elderly Statute, from the Government! Which seems to us to be a bit of that type of…”

Being interrupted by protests from Hugo Soares, PSD deputy, he reacted: “Listen, we are all adults, everyone does politics, everyone knows these things, it is not worth it for Mr Hugo Soares, now, to be there tearing up his clothes”.

The PSD parliamentary leader reacted: “I even take off my clothes!”.

Further on, and now about burqas, when the president of the Board saw that no one was signed up to speak after the CDS, Rita Matias (Chega) said: “They collude with Islamic fascism!”

Andreia Galvão (Bloco de Esquerda) signed up to say that Chega’s bill on the end of burqas, and citing the Bar Association, “is not neutral, it targets a religious community, therefore, it violates the constitutional principle of freedom, conscience and religion”.

Rita Matias, again: “You don’t talk about Christians!”.

By this time, the room had already warmed up. Andreia Galvão: “In a free country, the State should not impose ways of life, no; it should protect the right of each person to dress in their own way. Ladies and gentlemen, the principle is this: live and let live.”

Rita Matias: “What a shame! They have to defend their Islamic husbands!”.

Mariana Leitão (Liberal Initiative) also protested: “They are treated like garbage!”.

Faced with the protests of Eurico Brilhante Dias (PS, no transcript), Rita Matias said: “A sexist speaking!”.

Rui Rocha (IL), shortly afterwards: “Religions are not all the same, civilizations are not all the same, societies are not all the same. Ours was built on centuries of history, sacrifices and martyrdom; ours was also built on the shoulders of giants. Closing our eyes to the burqa would mean not being up to the size of these giants.”

“Ours is better!”pointed out Pedro Frazão, from Chega.

Rui Rocha continues to speak: “There are those who say that this discussion is not relevant, because in Portugal few women wear burqas. They are wrong!”

Rita Matias, again: “There are too many!”

When the IL deputy stopped speaking, once again, the Board had no registrations. Once again, Rita Matias said: “Bundle feminists! Whoever remains silent, consents! They are conniving!”

But Rui Tavares signed up and, in a speech constantly interrupted by Chega and CDS, at one point, commented: “Listen to the speech, don’t be guessing! The right has now found a mania that has never been hypocritical: not in gay marriage, not in the Catholic church, not in sexual abuse! And you think you can guess what the left is going to say. Wait! The left speaks, it doesn’t need you to guess. I’m not going to waste a second…”

Pedro Pinto (Chega) interrupts to shout: “Take your hand out of your pocket!”.

All this seconds before the famous episode of whether or not you could say “guy” in the Assembly of the Republic – but that word said by Rui Tavares and the following debate was very noticeable in the room.

Still in the dispute with Rui Tavares, when the Livre deputy claimed that the bill in question is “poorly done, because it is a trap” and because “what everyone wants is not to seriously discuss this topic, but to present something poorly done, so that there are people who vote against it, and then they go to the television sets to say that people voted against it”.

“And I”, continued Rui Tavares, “for the request of a politician and a party addicted to attention…” – Chega protests, here – “…I won’t give it another minute. It’s my shortest speech in this house! Enjoy yourself!”.

Pedro Frazão reacted: “Go to Afghanistan!”.

This transcription also confirms Rita Matias’ version of the controversial phrase. The transcript shows that, during the applause for the approval of the end of burqas in public spaces, Filipa Pinto (Livre) said: “We will talk about abortion!” Rita Matias listened and replied: “I’m glad they didn’t abort you, Filipa!”

All with the microphone off.