A group of neo-Nazis attacked actors outside a Lisbon theatre on Tuesday night, forcing the cancellation of a play celebrating Portugal’s national poet, Luís de Camões. The performance was scheduled as part of Portugal Day festivities, which honour the iconic 16th-century writer.
The assault took place near the Barraca theatre in central Lisbon and left actor Aderito Lopes, who plays Camões in the production “Love Is A Flame That Burns Unseen,” hospitalised with facial injuries. Authorities have arrested one person in connection with the incident.
Culture Minister Margarida Balseiro Lopes denounced the attack as a “cowardly assault on freedom of expression, creativity, and the democratic values that define us as a nation.”
The group of approximately 30 neo-Nazis reportedly had returned from a nationalist rally, carrying signs and leaflets with slogans like “Portugal for Portuguese.” They initially hurled verbal abuse at an actress wearing a leftist-themed T-shirt before physically assaulting two male cast members, according to director Maria do Céu Guerra.
The incident coincided with the 30th anniversary of the racially motivated murder of Black teenager Alcindo Monteiro by skinheads, also on Portugal Day, further highlighting the persistence of far-right extremism in the country.
“Thirty years on, this country still hasn’t found a way to protect itself from neo-Nazis,” said Guerra in televised remarks.
Portugal Day, historically known as “Portuguese Race Day” under the dictatorship of António Salazar, has long been appropriated by ultra-right groups for small-scale rallies. While such gatherings have often flown under the radar, the rise of the far-right Chega party—now the main opposition in parliament following last month’s elections—has brought renewed attention to growing nationalist sentiment. The European Union has previously warned of an uptick in hate speech in Portugal.
Left-wing lawmakers condemned the attack and accused Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s centre-right government of failing to confront far-right threats. “The neo-fascists are attacking books, theatre, and culture. They act this way because they believe they can,” wrote Left Bloc MP Mariana Mortágua on X.
Minister Lopes, reaffirming her stance, said: “Culture will not be intimidated. It refuses to accept hatred disguised as political speech.”
This latest incident follows violent disruptions by far-right groups in April, which marred celebrations of the Carnation Revolution’s 51st anniversary—a national holiday commemorating Portugal’s transition to democracy.
Reuters/s.s