The Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) in Portugal has archived several criminal inquiries into hate speech and racial discrimination, including cases involving political posters by André Ventura and statements by other politicians. Critics, such as the SOS Racismo association, argue that the MP's reliance on a broad interpretation of freedom of expression effectively renders the anti-discrimination law (Article 240 of the Penal Code) inapplicable, especially when the speech is framed as political. This contrasts with civil court rulings that have ordered the removal of discriminatory posters, highlighting a systemic inconsistency in how the judiciary handles hate speech versus political discourse.
After all, when does the Public Prosecutor's Office consider racial discrimination a crime?
Tuesday, 31 March 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Chega ("Enough") is a Portuguese far-right populist party founded in 2019 by André Ventura. It positions itself as an anti-establishment movement against what it calls a "rotten and corrupt system" of PS-PSD dominance. The party surged from 1.3% in 2019 to 22.8% in May 2025, becoming parliament's second-largest force with 60 seats. Chega's core platform emphasizes strict immigration control—ending automatic CPLP residency, deporting non-independent immigrants, implementing job-market quotas, and requiring five-year social security contributions before benefit access. It advocates radical constitutional reform, including reducing parliament to 100 members, abolishing the prime minister position for a presidential system, and dismantling public healthcare. Law-and-order policies include life imprisonment and chemical castration proposals.
The party is defined by inflammatory anti-Romani rhetoric, with Ventura convicted multiple times for discrimination. Chega maintains international alignments with European far-right figures including Marine Le Pen, Santiago Abascal, and Matteo Salvini. Mainstream Portuguese parties, including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's government, have imposed a cordon sanitaire, refusing coalition with Chega despite its parliamentary strength.
