André Ventura
Portuguese politician and Member of Parliament for the Lisbon District of Portugal and State Councillor of Portugal
Photo: Vox España, CC0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
- 7h ago
Minister Luís Neves announces criminal complaint against ex-MAI chief Ricardo Carrilho
Portugal's interior minister says he will file a criminal complaint over statements by his dismissed secretary-general, who accuses him of political pressure and of steering SIRESP contracts. The ministry calls the statements slanderous and defamatory.
- 11h ago
Ventura urges Seguro to veto Tribunal de Contas law he says could clear minister Luís Neves
Chega leader André Ventura says the new Tribunal de Contas law would let Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves escape financial liability for 2023 spending at the Polícia Judiciária. The government calls that reading factually false.
- 4d ago
IMF raises Portugal's 2026 growth forecast to 2.1%, still below government's 2.3%
The IMF now expects Portugal's economy to grow 2.1% in 2026 and 1.9% in 2027, both upgrades from its June estimates. The PCP confirmed it will vote against the 2027 State Budget, citing a public investment cut of more than 30%.
- 4d ago
Montenegro rejects Passos Coelho's call for a PSD alliance with Chega
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said on Monday, 12 October, that the PSD should not be chained to Chega, responding to former prime minister Pedro Passos Coelho's SIC Notícias interview in which Passos urged a right-wing alliance with Chega and the Liberal Initiative.
- 5d ago
Chega members enter Coimbra student radio studio, police called to end live debate
Chega members led by deputies Rita Matias and Madalena Cordeiro entered the Associação Académica de Coimbra building on the morning of Monday, 12 October 2026, and interrupted a live debate on Rádio Universidade de Coimbra. Three PSP officers arrived, and the party members left after about an hour.
- 5d ago
Portugal's interior ministry removes secretary-general over SIRESP oversight dispute
Minister Luís Neves ended the functions of Ricardo Carrilho, secretary-general of the Ministry of Internal Administration, after Expresso reported a rupture over oversight of the SIRESP emergency network.
- Oct 6
Portugal's PS demands transparency over government agreements with Chega on rent law
The Portuguese Socialist Party called on Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to disclose if more deals exist with Chega, following a written pact on rental legislation.
- Oct 1
Chega leader André Ventura criticizes Donald Trump over Iran war and rising European fuel costs
Speaking at a Patriots foundation conference in Ericeira, Chega president André Ventura stated that US President Donald Trump committed multiple errors regarding the war in Iran as energy prices rise across Southern Europe.
- Oct 1
Chega to lead 25-member parliamentary inquiry into former police chief Luís Neves
Portugal's parliament approved a 25-seat inquiry commission into the 2018–2026 tenure of Judiciary Police director Luís Neves, granting Chega the presidency and admitting JPP deputy Filipe Sousa on an exceptional basis.
- Sep 30
President Seguro warns democracy is fragile and calls for party pacts and media independence
Speaking at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and addressing news agency Lusa in Lisbon, Portuguese President António José Seguro urged cross-party cooperation on health and education while defending media independence.
- Sep 24
Portuguese parliament rejects all 14 proposals on fuel and food tax cuts
Lawmakers in Lisbon voted down 14 tax and toll relief measures after cross-party negotiations collapsed between the Socialists and Chega during a debate without government ministers present.
- Sep 20
Portugal finance minister warns fuel and food VAT cuts would cause €2B deficit
Joaquim Miranda Sarmento said proposals by PS and Chega to reduce fuel and food taxes would drain €2 billion annually, threatening a return to a budget deficit in 2027.
- Sep 12
Portuguese Socialists and Chega clash over competing fuel tax cut proposals
Socialist Party leader José Luís Carneiro accused Chega of political deception after André Ventura challenged the opposition to back a draft law lowering road fuel VAT from 23% to 13% in a September 24 parliamentary vote.
- Sep 9
Portugal rejects censure motion as Montenegro presents €800 million tax cut and pension bonus
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced a €400 million IRS reduction and €400 million in extraordinary pension bonuses as parliament voted down a censure motion tabled by Chega.
- Aug 28
Chega threatens no-confidence motion against Portuguese government over interior minister
Chega leader André Ventura set a deadline of 1 September for Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to dismiss Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves, warning that failure to act will trigger a parliamentary motion of no confidence.
- Aug 24
Portugal's Chega challenges 710 million euro fuel tax as Finance Ministry defends legality
Opposition party Chega has demanded parliamentary hearings over 710 million euros allocated to road infrastructure from fuel levies in 2025, while the government maintains the funding model complies with European law.
- Aug 3
Portuguese education minister says 97% of second-phase exams graded and 70% of regrade requests lifted marks
Fernando Alexandre told the Permanent Committee on Monday that 97% of the roughly 90,000 second-phase exams were classified by early afternoon and that 70% of over 20,000 regrade requests resulted in higher grades. Higher education application deadlines remain unchanged.
- Jul 28
Chega leader André Ventura reports Parliament office ransacked; documents and USB drives missing, PJ investigating
The office of Chega president André Ventura in Portugal's Assembly of the Republic was found ransacked on the morning of 28 July 2026, with documents relating to a parliamentary inquiry and the prime minister's office reported missing. The Judicial Police (PJ), through its National Counterterrorism Unit, is investigating.
- Jul 8
Chega MP José Dias Fernandes reverses decision to leave party after meeting with André Ventura
José Dias Fernandes requested to become a non-inscrito MP on Wednesday afternoon, then reversed course three hours later following a meeting with Chega leader André Ventura, citing unresolved diaspora issues.
- Jul 3
Portuguese parliament rejects loss of nationality penalty as PSD and Chega fail to agree
All three attempts to make loss of Portuguese nationality a possible punishment for serious crimes were voted down in parliament on 3 July 2026, after the two main right-wing parties failed to bridge their differences over the unconstitutional decree.
