Portugal’s most watched tv channel (TVI) invited the former leader of the Portuguese fascist party National Front and founder of the new far-right “movement” New Social Order, Mário Machado, onto one of its most watched day talk shows on Thursday. 
To add insult to injury, this convicted criminal was there to discuss the “need to have a new Salazar” in Portugal. As if fascism were now a rational option out of the political deck.
For those not familiar with this man or his crimes, not only is he a very public fascist organiser (and a former candidate to the leadership of Sporting CP’s ultras known as Juve Leo) he was also involved in the murder of a black Portuguese youth, Alcindo Monteiro, in 1997
The murder was a hate crime that opened up (though not enough, clearly) a national debate about football ultras (which the murderous gang Machado headed was part of), fascism and the armed forces (Machado was a corporal in the Portuguese Air Force)
That this man is being reintroduced into the public sphere - not as a repenting individual, but simply in a new iteration of his fascist spiel - is a disgrace. That the largest tv channel in Portugal is abetting him to do so, giving the alt-right such a platform is a travesty!
This is the man who in times was branded in the Portuguese media as “Hitler’s disciple”, “skinhead leader” and he himself said he was the “public enemy”
In 2010 Machado was condemned to seven years in prison for kidnapping, theft, illegal position of firearms and coercion. During his imprisonments he was use as a cause célebre for the Portuguese far right (similar to the Free Tommy campaign)
He now leads the extremely dodgy and extremely worrying group Nova Ordem Social (New Social Order). Their imagery is blatantly fascistic. Their alliances across Europe often openly so: Der Dritte Weg in Germany, Nordic Resistance Movement in Sweden (but also Identitarios España)
Importantly is to observe what Nova Ordem Social (NOS) stands for and has done on the ground. To smash fascism in its still infant rise we need to see where is exercises its influence and power. What public phobias is it exploiting?
Like many other European “alt-right” (ie neo-nazi) groups, NOS focuses its message on national pride and defending Portuguese identity from the lurking foreigner who is oftentimes Muslim (and in Portugal certainly black but that’s to be inferred)
Pic: NOS online shop merchandise
Pic: NOS online shop merchandise
That polo shirt and the “Infidel” tshirt remind me of Britain First’s ones. Not surprising, but perhaps an indicator that the far right across Europe is paying attention to each other’s tactics and is copying each other when successful
Other areas Nova Ordem Social organises around?
- Homelessness
- Animal welfare (a lot!)
- Institutionaliced children’s support
- Pro-life
- Child abuse (real and phantomed, often blamed on the far left)
- Homelessness
- Animal welfare (a lot!)
- Institutionaliced children’s support
- Pro-life
- Child abuse (real and phantomed, often blamed on the far left)
That is to say, Nova Ordem Social is exploiting real problems linked to the collapse of the Portuguese welfare state (and if you think this is solely to blame on the politics of austerity in Portugal you’re not following the news - but that’s for another thread)
Problematic are, of course, the solutions NOS are offering - ie an openly fascistic programe. It’s insidious and dangerous as their positions against Capitalism and against precarious work, for more workers’ control and better maternity leave will naturally resonate with millions
Meanwhile supporting white (pan-European) supremacy, Christian supremacy, sexism, homophobia, etc
Anyway I spent more time than I can afford exposing these creeps now. I wish the Portuguese msm would spend the 1h I did on a basic Google search of this piece of scum before inviting him anywhere. I hope the thread was useful to non-Portuguese speakers. Apologies for the typos
