During the solemn session of the 25th of April, André Ventura, leader of Chega, wore a green carnation to represent the Portuguese emigrant community, sparking debate. He argued that April is not just about the 'captains of April' but for all citizens, while criticizing the focus on liberation movements. In response, PSD parliamentary leader Hugo Soares stated that April belongs to Portugal, not to specific political symbols, and called for moderation against extremism and division. Meanwhile, PS secretary-general José Luís Carneiro reflected on the legacy of the Colonial War and the dictatorship, emphasizing the need to combat populism through education and addressing persistent social inequalities.
Chega wears green carnations. April 'does not belong to green or red carnations', but to Portugal, says PSD
Saturday, 25 April 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.
