Defendants in case 1143 have told courts that Chega MP Rui Afonso registered dozens of members of a neo‑Nazi group, paid their party fees for months and gave them money to vote, Expresso and other outlets report. The MP denies the accusations, called them an anathema and has requested an internal party inquiry; sources note the Judicial Police (PJ) dismantled the group on January 20. The allegations could affect Chega's internal discipline and voter trust in the run‑up to local and national contests. Voters and party members should follow the court process and party statements.
MP accused of buying votes from neo‑Nazi group
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.
Rui Afonso is a Chega Member of Parliament who was named in testimony in case 1143 as having registered dozens of group members in the party, paid their membership fees for months, and given them money to vote. The allegation ties him to activity around the Santo Tirso branch of a neo‑Nazi organisation and is part of an ongoing court process.
The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministério Público) is the independent body that leads criminal investigations and represents the state in court. It gets involved in cases like a long-delayed INEM response because it can order autopsies, investigate potential criminal negligence or procedural failures, and decide whether to bring charges or recommend disciplinary action.
The Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária) is Portugal’s national criminal investigation force that handles serious crimes such as homicide, organised crime, corruption and major fraud. It conducts criminal inquiries alongside prosecutors, so if you are involved in or affected by a serious criminal case in Portugal the PJ leads investigative work and consular assistance may be helpful.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministério Público) is Portugal’s state prosecution service responsible for investigating crimes, bringing criminal charges and representing the state in court; it is institutionally independent from the police and is led by the Procurador‑Geral da República (Attorney General). In the story it is the body accusing two officers, so residents and those interacting with law enforcement should know that criminal allegations are pursued and prosecuted by this office.
Sources (5)
- Defendant accuses Chega MP of buying votes from neonazis of group 1143Expresso · 8:58am, 22 Feb 2026
- Operation Brotherhood. Defendant in Group 1143 accuses Chega MP of buying votes from neo-NazisRTP Notícias · 10:21am, 22 Feb 2026
- Accused claims Chega MP bought votes from neonazisCNN Portugal · 9:00am, 22 Feb 2026
- Accused of buying votes from a neo-Nazi, Chega MP deniesObservador · 9:23am, 22 Feb 2026
- Chega Deputy Suspected of Buying Votes from Neo-Nazis of Group 1143CNN Portugal · 2:46pm, 22 Feb 2026