André Ventura, the leader of the Chega party, has announced he will chair a parliamentary inquiry committee into the tenure of Luís Neves as national director of the Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ). The committee will investigate Neves' management and oversight responsibilities regarding several controversial cases, including the disappearance of police assets and the handling of the 'Pacoba' operation. Ventura has pledged to conduct the inquiry impartially.
André Ventura to lead inquiry into Judiciary Police director
Saturday, 3 October 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.
The PJ (Polícia Judiciária) is Portugal's national criminal investigation police agency, founded in 1945. Operating under the Ministry of Justice and supervised by the Public Ministry (prosecutors), the PJ is a "higher criminal police body" specializing in serious and complex crimes. Mission: The PJ assists judicial and prosecuting authorities by investigating terrorism, organized crime, homicide, kidnapping, drug trafficking, corruption, cybercrime, financial crime, and money laundering. It conducts forensic examinations, operates Portugal's Interpol and Europol liaison offices, and maintains specialized units including the National Counterterrorism Unit and National Anti-Corruption Unit. Difference from PSP/GNR: While PSP (civilian urban police) and GNR (military rural police) focus on preventive policing, public order, and investigating minor crimes, the PJ exclusively handles serious crime investigation requiring specialized technical and scientific expertise. PSP and GNR report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs; PJ reports to the Ministry of Justice. PJ officers receive higher pay and prestige but face greater operational risk.
6 sources
- André Ventura takes on direct fight: he will chair the inquiry committee into Luís Neves and guarantees he will do so "without fear of the consequences"expresso.pt ·
- André Ventura to chair parliamentary inquiry into Luís Neves' terms at the Judiciary Policedn.pt ·
- André Ventura to chair the parliamentary inquiry committee into Luís Nevesrtp.pt ·
- André Ventura to chair the inquiry committee into Luís Neves' terms at the PJpublico.pt ·
- Ventura to chair the inquiry committee into Luís Nevesobservador.pt ·
- André Ventura assumes presidency of the inquiry committee into Luís Neveseco.sapo.pt ·
