The Social Democratic Party (Partido Socialista Democrata or PSD) and Chega have signed an agreement to introduce changes to the government's proposed rental law during the committee stage. The legislation, which aims to revise the New Urban Leasing Regime (Novo Regime do Arrendamento Urbano), passed its first parliamentary test this week with an abstention from Chega. Lawmakers now have three months to discuss and vote on the specific amendments.
PSD and Chega agree on rental law amendments
Wednesday, 30 September 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
- Leader: Luís Montenegro (Prime Minister)
- Ideology: Liberal conservatism, pro-Europeanism
- Coalition: Social Democratic Party (PSD) + CDS–People's Party (CDS-PP)
The Democratic Alliance (Aliança Democrática, AD) is a center-right coalition primarily composed of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) with 89 seats and the CDS–People's Party (CDS-PP) with 2 seats. Together, they form the current minority government under Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
The PSD, despite its name, occupies the center-right of Portugal's political spectrum and has been one of Portugal's two dominant parties since 1974, having formed nine governments including four with absolute majorities. The CDS-PP is a smaller Christian democratic party that has historically been the PSD's coalition partner.
The AD coalition governs without a parliamentary majority, requiring case-by-case support from opposition parties to pass legislation. The coalition has imposed a cordon sanitaire against Chega, refusing formal cooperation with the far-right despite its parliamentary strength, which means it must negotiate with the PS or smaller parties to advance its legislative agenda.
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.
6 sources
- PSD and Chega reach agreement to amend the Government's proposal on the new urban leasing regime during the committee stageeco.sapo.pt ·
- Parliament approves new tenancy law with Chega abstainingrtp.pt ·
- Chega and PSD reach agreement to amend rent laws during committee stageobservador.pt ·
- Government says it is available to 'refine' the rental regime and points to 'many' points of convergence with Chegacnnportugal.iol.pt ·
- U-turn on housing: PSD and Chega move closer after disagreementspublico.pt ·
- PSD and Chega sign agreement for changes to leasingcmjornal.pt ·
