The Chega National Council has unanimously voted against the government's current labour and state reform proposals, stating they cannot support the measures as they stand. Party leader André Ventura warned that the reforms, which include amendments to the Labour Code, negatively impact workers and facilitate corruption. Additionally, the party has postponed its next congress to the final quarter of the year.
Chega rejects government labour and state reform proposals
Friday, 22 May 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
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.
5 sources
- Chega postpones congress to the last quarter of the year and schedules district electionscmjornal.pt ·
- Chega national council unanimous in rejecting labour and State reformpublico.pt ·
- Chega postpones congress to the last quarter of the yearrtp.pt ·
- Chega National Council rejects voting in favour of labour and state reforms 'as they stand'dn.pt ·
- Chega National Council proposes rejection of the labour packagecnnportugal.iol.pt ·
