The Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, addressed the controversy surrounding him in Madeira for the first time, declaring that "in recent weeks we have witnessed an escalation of lies" and that "without proof, there is no accusation, only defamation". Speaking after the ceremony commemorating the 148th anniversary of the PSP Madeira Regional Command in Câmara de Lobos, the minister criticized the practice of "I have no proof, but I accuse", emphasizing that his career has always been guided by acting based on evidence.
Neves recalled his over 30 years of experience in combating crime, including violent crime, drug trafficking, and organized crime, stating that "the decisions I made, some of the most serious and important I made in service to our country, were always based on proof". The minister also advocated for the seizure and use of assets related to criminal activities by the state, arguing that "it is not after seven, eight, nine, 10 years that we will utilize the assets of those who committed crimes".
The minister denied making decisions that harmed the state and criticized those who, out of "ignorance or bad faith", label certain decisions as scandals. He also warned against people being "contaminated" by lies and populism, and stated that "some need chaos to grow". Concluding with a firm message, Luís Neves declared: "They do not intimidate me. They never intimidate me. You can keep shouting. I will continue working."
