Chega president André Ventura has threatened to return to the campaign trail if the government does not agree to lower the retirement age in the upcoming State Budget. Ventura also accused the government of manipulating a recent study on Social Security sustainability to justify future pension cuts and reiterated his party's demand for a commission of inquiry into the leadership of the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ).
Ventura threatens political instability over pension reform
Wednesday, 19 August 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.
7 sources
- "We are prepared to govern", guarantees André Venturacmjornal.pt ·
- Ventura launches debate on lowering the retirement age for the Budget and raises the spectre of electionsexpresso.pt ·
- “They manipulated this study”. Ventura to propose lowering the retirement age in the 2027 State Budgeteco.sapo.pt ·
- Ventura returns to the loss of nationality issue and accuses the Government of preparing pension cutspublico.pt ·
- Ventura accuses Montenegro of wanting to cut pensionsobservador.pt ·
- André Ventura warns of potential pension cuts and insists on lowering the retirement agertp.pt ·
- Ventura says the Portuguese want change and guarantees that, "when the moment comes," Chega will be prepared "to govern"cnnportugal.iol.pt ·
