Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, speaking at the PSD Summer University in Castelo de Vide, argued that Portugal requires moderate leadership. He criticized the populist rhetoric of Chega leader André Ventura and the past governance of the Socialist Party, specifically targeting PS leader José Luís Carneiro. Rangel defended the current government's focus on energy security and strategic investments.
Rangel criticizes political rivals at PSD Summer University
Tuesday, 25 August 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
Paulo Rangel is a Portuguese politician from the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) who has been a prominent voice on defence and foreign‑policy issues and has served in the European Parliament. He appears in this story because he commented publicly on the controversy over Lajes Air Base being used to refuel US planes.
The Social Democratic Party ('Partido Social Democrata' or 'PSD') is a liberal-conservative political party in Portugal that is the leading partner of the The Democratic Alliance (AD) which is the country's ruling party, with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
The Social Democratic Party, despite its name, occupies the centre-right of Portugal's political spectrum. Luís Montenegro, who became Prime Minister in April 2024, leads Portugal's current minority government. The PSD has been one of Portugal's two dominant parties since 1974, having formed nine governments including four with absolute majorities. Montenegro, a former party leader from 1996-1999, was elected with the highest approval rating among party leaders at 10.7 points out of 20.
The Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition that includes the smaller CDS – People's Party, a Christian democratic party that has historically been the PSD's coalition partner. Together, they govern without a parliamentary majority, requiring case-by-case support from opposition parties to pass legislation.
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.
José Luís Carneiro is a Portuguese politician and member of the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS). He served as the Minister of Internal Administration (Ministro da Administração Interna) from 2022 to 2024 and currently holds a seat in the Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República).
8 sources
- José Luís Carneiro refuses to be compared to André Venturartp.pt ·
- Rangel says Portugal cannot be governed by demagogues like Chega or by the PS's 'sugar-coated policies'dn.pt ·
- Rangel: Carneiro and Ventura are incapable of leading the countryobservador.pt ·
- Portugal cannot be governed by demagogues like Chega or by the 'sugar-coated policies' of the PS, states Paulo Rangelcmjornal.pt ·
- “We can’t be governed by demagogues, or saccharine-sweet policies”Portugal Resident ·
- "It has nothing to do with nationalisations": Rangel defends "sovereignty operation" in REN and attacks Carneiro for failing to "anticipate the sign of the times"expresso.pt ·
- Rangel defends AD governance against Chega's "demagoguery" and PS's "laxity"publico.pt ·
- Paulo Rangel: "Portugal cannot be governed by demagogues, nor by those with bittersweet policies"SIC Notícias ·
