Media Watchdog Investigates Chega Disruption at University Radio Station

Wednesday, 14 October 2026AI summary

📍 Coimbra ⚖️ Legal 🏛️ Government #chega #legal-reforms #public-safety #regulation

Media Watchdog Investigates Chega Disruption at University Radio Station — Photo: Expresso

Portugal's media regulator, the Media Regulatory Authority (Entidade Reguladora para a Comunicação Social or ERC), opened formal proceedings into the interruption of a live broadcast at Rádio Universidade de Coimbra (RUC) by members of the Chega party. The incident was led by Chega lawmakers Rita Matias and Madalena Cordeiro during a broadcast on 12 October. The Coimbra Academic Association (Associação Académica de Coimbra or AAC) announced it is submitting a formal complaint to the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministério Público).

Context & Explainers

The ERC (Entidade Reguladora para a Comunicação Social) is the independent administrative authority responsible for regulating and supervising media activities in Portugal. It ensures that media outlets adhere to legal standards regarding editorial independence, pluralism, and the protection of citizens' rights in communication.

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.

Rita Matias is a member of parliament (deputada) representing the right-wing party Chega in the Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República). Elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2024, she leads the party's youth wing (Juventude Chega). She is a prominent spokesperson for Chega, frequently addressing education, university politics, and youth issues.