The Chega party, led by André Ventura, has submitted legislative proposals to Parliament aimed at lowering the cost of living. These include a temporary reduction of VAT on road fuels from 23% to 13%, a 0% VAT rate on essential food items, and the removal of tolls on the 25 de Abril and Vasco da Gama bridges.
Chega proposes VAT cuts on fuel and food
Friday, 11 September 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.
