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Von der Leyen’s speech in Porto interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters

by AI | 07.Jun 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The candidate of the European People’s Party said that if the demonstrators “were in Moscow, they would be in prison,” while the police removed the people who were demonstrating from the rally site.

Police arrest a Pro-Palestine demonstrator during a protest at a Democratic Alliance (AD) rally as part of the campaign for the European elections, Porto, Portugal, on 6th June 2024.

The speech of the President of the European Commission and candidate of the European People’s Party for a second term, today in Porto, was interrupted by dozens of demonstrators supporting the Palestinians, who demanded a “Free Palestine” from Israel’s bombings.

Ursula von der Leyen had begun to speak at an AD rally in downtown Porto and was praising the support of PSD president Luís Montenegro and AD’s top candidate Sebastião Bugalho when about 20 demonstrators interrupted her words shouting “Free Palestine” given Israel’s bombings in Gaza, with their hands painted red to remind of the blood of the conflict.

Von der Leyen tried to continue the speech, but the focus at the rally was on the demonstrators, who eventually left the venue accompanied by the police.

“If you were in Moscow, you would be in prison now,” commented Ursula von der Leyen, comparing the protest to the Ukraine war caused by the Russian invasion.

“Freedom, freedom,” began shouting AD supporters, who nevertheless could not prevent the continuation of the protests in support of Palestine, already somewhat outside the rally’s venue.

Von der Leyen’s campaign has been marked by her pro-Israel stance in the Middle East conflict.