“Immigration is far from being the Algarve’s problem,” said one pro-diversity demonstrator in Albufeira
Around 70 demonstrators gathered in Albufeira on Saturday (February 8) to stand against discrimination and support diversity, countering a protest organised by far-right nationalist group 1143.
Holding banners reading “The Algarve belongs to everyone” and “No room for fascists in Albufeira,” the demonstrators convened at the busy beachside square Praça dos Pescadores at 3pm and marched along the downtown streets in a peaceful demonstration, monitored by GNR police.
Both demonstrations, held at different times and locations, did not intersect, which helped prevent clashes.
The pro-diversity rally, which ended at 4pm without incident, was organised by Frente Anti-Discriminação Algarve (Anti-Discrimination Front Algarve, or FADA) not just as a response to the far-right gathering but also as an attempt to challenge the narrative that links immigration to crime.
“We want to show that the Algarve does not align with that way of thinking which has been proven wrong,” FADA representative Hugo Lopes told Lusa news agency. He also spoke of the importance of actively voicing opposition to ideologies defended by far-right groups, such as 1143.
Lopes also criticised the fact that the group, led by convicted neo-Nazi Mário Machado, was allowed to protest in front of a public institution, stressing that Machado has a history of cases of violence and hate speech.
Among the demonstrators was João Costa, a local citizen who felt compelled to take part because he could not tolerate the presence of neo-Nazi protests in his community. “Immigration is far from being the Algarve’s problem. The real issues are economic and structural inequalities, not foreigners,” he told Lusa.
Paolo Funassi, representing the Albufeira Foreigners association, echoed these sentiments, stressing the need to “promote integration and peace.
“People come here for a better life, not to commit crimes,” he said.
Anti-immigration protest attracts 800
The pro-diversity rally was followed by the anti-immigration demonstration at 6pm, which brought together around 800 people – many of whom had their faces covered and carried lit torches. Before the protest began, Mário Machado confirmed he plans to turn himself in at the Caldas da Rainha prison on February 25 to begin serving his two-year, ten-month sentence for crimes of discrimination and incitement to hatred and violence.
The Constitutional Court (TC) has rejected Machado’s appeal, and unless a new appeal is filed, he must present himself for imprisonment by the end of the month. José Manuel Castro, Machado’s lawyer, told Lusa that they were still considering whether to appeal for further review. However, Machado stated that he saw such an effort as “a waste of time”.
Speaking to journalists in Albufeira, Machado stated that he would not file a final appeal, opting instead to “enter as soon as possible to also get out as soon as possible.”
The case involved Machado and Ricardo Pais, who were found guilty of posting hate-fuelled messages on social media, specifically targeting left-wing women, including Renata Cambra, a former leader of the Socialist Alternative Movement (MAS).
Machado’s appeal to the court, filed in December 2024, temporarily suspended his sentence. However, the Lisbon Court of Appeals upheld the conviction, rejecting his claims that his statements were meant as “humour.” The court ruled that his remarks genuinely reflected his beliefs and intentions.
Among the inflammatory messages posted on Twitter (now X) by Machado and Pais were explicit calls for “forced prostitution” of left-wing women, with Renata Cambra as a primary target.
