Leader of Chega, Ventura, has called on the Government to return the additional VAT revenue generated from the recent rise in fuel prices, emphasizing the need to differentiate between individuals and businesses. He criticized the Government's response to the fuel price crisis, particularly the insufficient discount on road diesel, and plans to push for an urgent debate in the Assembly of the Republic.
Ventura challenges Government to "return to taxpayers" VAT from fuel price increase
Saturday, 7 March 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Deco Proteste is a Portuguese consumer-protection organisation that offers advice, product testing, dispute mediation and information on billing, insurance and consumer rights. Today it set up a telephone helpline to help people affected by severe weather with payment moratoria, insurance claims, housing damage and billing adjustments; services are mainly in Portuguese and some help may be reserved for members, so callers should have policy numbers, photos and receipts ready.
Brent crude is a major international oil price benchmark made up of several light, low-sulfur crude oils produced in the North Sea; its price is quoted in US dollars per barrel. It is one of the two main global benchmarks, alongside West Texas Intermediate (WTI), and is widely used to price shipments to Europe and Africa. Because petrol and diesel in Portugal generally track Brent, a rise in the Brent price usually leads to higher pump prices, higher transport costs, and more expensive goods; one barrel equals 159 litres.
André Ventura, born January 15, 1983, is a lawyer, academic, and Portugal's most prominent far-right leader. He founded Chega ("Enough") in 2019 after his PSD mayoral campaign attacked the Romani community. Chega surged from 1.3% in 2019 to 22.8% in May 2025, becoming parliament's second-largest party and making Ventura Leader of the Opposition.
His platform emphasizes immigration restrictions, law-and-order policies, constitutional reform, and contains inflammatory anti-Romani rhetoric that has triggered multiple discrimination convictions and investigations. Politically classified as far-right by international media, Ventura cultivates alliances with European far-right figures including Marine Le Pen and Santiago Abascal.
He announced his 2026 presidential candidacy, polling at 18% alongside independent Admiral Gouveia e Melo. His rise ended Portugal's 50-year resistance to far-right parties.
The ISP is Portugal's excise tax on fuels — the Tax on Petroleum and Energy Products (Imposto sobre Produtos Petrolíferos e Energéticos) — charged as a unit rate per litre on petrol, diesel and other fuels. The government sets and can temporarily cut those unit rates; a recent decision to reduce the rate for road diesel on the mainland aims to lower pump prices and reduce transport costs for drivers and businesses, though it also lowers tax revenue.
AI Summary AvailableDiesel jumps 19 cents; queues form at pumpsRead the synthesized summary with context and explainers
View full article on CNN PortugalRSS source
Other news coverage of this topic
- Between the war and fuel taxes12:06am, 8 Mar 2026 • Observador
- Ventura challenges the Government to "return to taxpayers" VAT resulting from the rise in fuel prices6:04pm, 7 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Ventura challenges the Government to "return to taxpayers" VAT resulting from the rise in fuel prices5:51pm, 7 Mar 2026 • Expresso
