Antônio Cotrim / LUSA
André Ventura during biweekly debate
At least 1h and each sentence must be documented. Because lying is only one of three ways of lying.
“People think there is only one way to lie: the lie itself. But there are three types of lies: this, the omission of truth and the suggestion of falsehood. In that intervention, all these ways of lying are there.”
José Pacheco Pereira thus addressed the controversy of Andre Ventura in the solemn session of the 50th anniversary of the Constitution – which led to the departure of several constituent deputies who were in the galleries of the Assembly of the Republic.
The former deputy is aware that it is controversial: should André Ventura respond? Not to give you even more media space. But there is a rule: “One insult doesn’t drive home.”
Pacheco Pereira is against “soft people who are insulted and do not defend themselves” – and here “soft people” are all the people who fought against the dictatorship before the 25th of April.
The historian countered at various points in André Ventura’s speech.
One of them is the number of political prisoners on April 25, 1974 and post-April 25; the statistics are “not very accurate”.
André Ventura spoke about the “assault on a CDS rally in Porto” but did not talk about headquarters of the PCP, MDP and FSP who were the target of “attacks that caused deaths” and where “there were bombs”.
“These bombs were not only planted in 75, but also in 76, 77, 78, against installations linked to agrarian reform, against left-wing parties and there are deaths here too”, he recalled.
Still about attacks: “They never tried to kill PIDE agents”admitting an attack against Salazar and “murders carried out by the PCP”. PIDE agents no, informants yes – but the number is very low, at this point.
“Don’t tell me that democracy is worse than dictatorship.”
After all this, Pacheco Pereira left a challenge to André Ventura: a debate for two.
With two conditions: the debate must last at least one hour and each statement must be documented.
“I expect a response quickly.”
