Ultimatum issued in Coimbra

Chega leader André Ventura announced on Friday, 28 August, that his party will submit a motion of no confidence against the Portuguese government on Tuesday, 1 September, unless Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves leaves office. Speaking to reporters during a visit to the Centro Social São João in São Martinho do Bispo, Coimbra, Ventura stated that Neves has lost the ethical authority necessary to head internal security. He cited fresh reports regarding illegal vehicles linked to drug traffickers, the unauthorized use of state property for personal and institutional purposes, and unanswered questions surrounding ministerial conduct. Ventura stated that Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has allowed the controversy to drag on intolerably and remains the only official with the power to resolve the matter.

“If this ethical standard ceases to exist, if we do not have a resolution to this situation, we will join the appeal made by the President of the Republic and present a motion of no confidence on Tuesday, on the first, in parliament.”

Ministerial controversies and presidential pressure

The standoff follows mounting public scrutiny of the Ministry of Internal Administration. Ventura contended that the continuous stream of allegations has dragged state institutions into an unacceptable state of suspicion, collusion, and potential criminality. He noted that while Portugal was fortunate to avoid severe wildfire emergencies this year, the minister cannot effectively command respect or lead emergency responses without public confidence. Prime Minister Montenegro reaffirmed his confidence in Neves on Thursday, 27 August, but Ventura argued that reporting in the weekly Nascer do Sol indicates President António José Seguro has already communicated a firm deadline for the minister to be replaced.

“Chega does not want to cause any political crisis. Chega wants minimum ethics in institutions and wants this situation of mud, swamp, suspicions of crime, collusion, etcetera, to be resolved.”

Ruling party dismissal of the threat

The Social Democratic Party rejected the motion threat during its annual summer university gathering in Castelo de Vide, Portalegre district. PSD vice president, spokesperson, and Member of the European Parliament Sebastião Bugalho dismissed suggestions that the ultimatum would weaken the government. Speaking immediately after participating in a panel on national housing policy, Bugalho stated that delivering homes to citizens is far more important than responding to opposition rhetoric. He emphasized that Ventura should stabilize his own public positions and present a consistent stance rather than demanding concessions from the executive.

Opposition dynamics and parliamentary timeline

The dispute brought renewed attention to political tensions between the government and parliamentary opposition forces. During the PSD summer event, Bugalho recalled previous statements by Hugo Soares accusing Chega and the Socialist Party of increasingly matching each other's rhetoric. Bugalho acknowledged that Chega and the Socialists, led by José Luís Carneiro, hold entirely distinct programmatic agendas and values, but argued that their attacks against Montenegro's administration follow parallel lines. If the prime minister does not dismiss Neves before Tuesday, Chega plans to formalize and submit the motion of no confidence when parliament convenes on 1 September.