Parliament debated legislative proposals from the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD), CDS – People's Party (CDS – Partido Popular or CDS-PP), and Chega to restrict access to the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS) for non-resident foreigners. The bills would require non-resident foreign citizens to pay user fees (taxas moderadoras) for public medical care. Opposition lawmakers criticized the measures during parliamentary debate, arguing that the right-wing parties are blaming foreigners for operational pressures across public hospitals.
Right-Wing Parties Propose NHS Fees for Non-Resident Foreigners
Friday, 16 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.
Paulo Portas is a Portuguese politician and the former leader of the CDS–PP (Centro Democrático e Social – Partido Popular). He often appears in media commentary—according to the story he used his weekly TVI slot to announce he will vote for António José Seguro in the presidential run-off.
