The Patriots for Europe, a far-right political group and the third-largest bloc in the European Parliament, including parties such as Chega, National Rally (France), and Vox (Spain), signed a document in Porto rejecting the 'unilateral pressure exerted by the European Commission for the advancement of renewable energy', citing fiscal or ideological pressure and models imposed from Brussels. During the 'Patriots Study Days - Energy, Territory and Sovereignty' meeting, figures such as André Ventura and Jordan Bardella signed the Porto Declaration, which advocates for a 'realistic and comprehensive energy mix' and criticises EU policies for causing energy price hikes and undermining national sovereignty. The group also called for increased scrutiny of wind farm expansion, citing concerns over environmental impact and the protection of rural and coastal communities, while asserting that energy policy must remain a core competence of individual member states.
Patriots for Europe contest 'unilateral pressure' from the European Commission in favour of renewable energy
Context & Explainers
Sustainability (sustentabilidade) means meeting present needs without reducing the ability of future generations to meet theirs, covering environmental, economic and social dimensions. For residents it affects local planning, jobs and services—look for municipal or company targets, timelines and measurable actions when assessing how sustainable a place or employer is.
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.
