Regarding prominent figures' support for Seguro, Ventura replied: “I couldn't care less about the notables; I want the Portuguese people.”
"All that's missing is Sócrates turning up to back Seguro": André Ventura accuses his rival in the presidential race of being 'afraid' to debate

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.
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Other news coverage of this topic
- It looks like André Ventura is a bit jealous7:25pm, 20 Jan 2026 • CNN Portugal
- Ensuring the country's stability cannot at the same time mean not being demanding, says André Ventura7:13pm, 20 Jan 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Ventura accuses Seguro of 'running away'7:07pm, 20 Jan 2026 • Observador
- Ventura challenges Seguro to more debates and says he is 'astonished' by support for the Socialist6:47pm, 20 Jan 2026 • Expresso
- Ventura astonished by endorsements from prominent right‑wing figures for Seguro6:44pm, 20 Jan 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Ventura accuses Seguro of avoiding confrontation and challenges him to three debates6:23pm, 20 Jan 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Ventura 'astonished' by endorsements from prominent right-wing figures for Seguro6:10pm, 20 Jan 2026 • ECO
- António Lobo Xavier will support António José Seguro and is considering taking part in the campaign5:33pm, 20 Jan 2026 • Dinheiro Vivo
- Presidential election: several musicians mobilise around António José Seguro5:27pm, 20 Jan 2026 • Expresso
- Ventura challenges Seguro to debates: "This is not for the faint-hearted — it's about fighting for the country seriously"4:53pm, 20 Jan 2026 • CNN Portugal
- Ventura accuses Seguro of evading debates and challenges him to three face-offs4:46pm, 20 Jan 2026 • Público
- Ventura demands three debates with Seguro, saying "this is not for the faint-hearted"4:36pm, 20 Jan 2026 • Diário de Notícias
- I couldn't care less about the establishment figures — Ventura downplays endorsements for Seguro4:33pm, 20 Jan 2026 • RTP Notícias
- Centre-right figures line up behind Seguro4:15pm, 20 Jan 2026 • Portugal Resident






