Latest news and stories about chega in Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
Five months after electing more than a hundred councillors, Chega has already begun to lose some of its elected officials and even risks losing its representation in the Lisbon city executive. On Expresso da Manhã, Paulo Baldaia speaks with Hélio Carvalho, the journalist who covers news regarding Chega.
A standoff between the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD), the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS), and Chega has delayed the election of three judges to the Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional). PS Secretary-General José Luís Carneiro called it unacceptable that his party might be excluded from the nominations by a right-wing majority. Meanwhile, Chega is facing internal friction in Lisbon as councillor Bruno Mascarenhas refuses to resign despite calls from within his party following a housing controversy.
The Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional) is Portugal's highest court for constitutional review, responsible for checking whether laws and statutes comply with the Constitution and for annulling or suspending unconstitutional measures. FNAM's push for a review matters because the court can strike down or block parts of the regional emergency services statute, directly affecting how emergency care is regulated.
Socialist Party (PS)
Portugal's other traditional major party suffered a historic collapse in the 2025 election, dropping from 78 to 58 seats and falling to third place for the first time in democratic history. The party was led by Pedro Nuno Santos from January 2024 until his resignation following the May 2025 defeat. José Luís Carneiro, a 53-year-old former Minister of Internal Administration known for his moderate positioning within the party, was elected unopposed as the new Secretary-General with 95% of votes in June 2025. The Socialist Party governed Portugal from 2015 to 2024, including an absolute majority from 2022 to 2024 under António Costa, who resigned in November 2023 amid a corruption investigation. The PS previously led the innovative "Geringonça" (contraption) coalition government from 2015-2019, a minority government supported by the Left Bloc and Portuguese Communist Party that reversed austerity measures and presided over economic recovery.
Mafalda Livermore, who was dismissed from the Lisbon City Council, responded for the first time on the Grande Jornal da Noite.
“We do not identify in the slightest with what is happening in the councillor office of Dr. Mascarenhas,” state Chega municipal deputies in Lisbon.
“We do not identify ourselves in the slightest with what is happening in the councillor's office of Dr. Mascarenhas,” stated the leader of the Chega bench.
The councillor does not respond to Rita Matias's call for resignation. Chega local officials in Lisbon criticise Mascarenhas. Moedas, who appointed (and dismissed) Livermore, tries to stay on the sidelines of the controversy.
At the Lisbon Municipal Assembly meeting, Chega deputies stated that the good result in the local elections increased the “probability” that they had “erred” in the “choice of some members”. Councillor Bruno Mascarenhas is not present at the session.
Mafalda Livermore, who was dismissed from the Lisbon City Council, responds for the first time on the Grande Jornal da Noite.
Chega has already lost one of its councillors in Lisbon: Ana Sofia Simões has become an independent following disagreements with Bruno Mascarenhas and has been integrated into Carlos Moedas' executive team. Ventura says he is awaiting a decision from the internal party bodies.
This is the umpteenth proof of the political convergence between the right-wing PSD/CDS/IL and the far-right Chega, adopting the 'culture wars' of this nebula of 21st-century neo-fascism. Opinion by Manuel Loff
The Portuguese parliamentary group Chega abruptly left the plenary session after a heated altercation with Teresa Morais, the acting president of the parliament. The dispute arose during a debate on racism and violence against women, initiated by Chega, where leader André Ventura accused opposition deputies of ignoring crimes against foreigners and women. Teresa Morais responded by defending the integrity of female parliamentarians, which prompted Ventura to criticize her and the opposition. The confrontation escalated when Filipe Melo of Chega was reprimanded for leaving his seat during the exchange, leading to the entire Chega bench walking out and the session ending prematurely. The incident was widely condemned, with the opposition praising Morais and criticizing Chega's behavior.
outramargem-visor.blogspot.com
The content of the messages was criticised this Monday by Fenprof, which considers it to be the promotion of “ideas that attack the dignity of the human person” and democracy.
Fenprof condemns Chega for using Futurália to expose “young students to messages of a populist, authoritarian nature that are deeply incompatible with the values” of the Constitution.
The National Federation of Teachers (Fenprof) criticised Chega's participation in Futurália this Monday, accusing the party of promoting “hate speech” through posters at a fair for young people that should be “an educational and formative space.” “The participation of political forces that spread speeches impregnated with xenophobia, racism, discrimination and exclusion contradicts...”
Chega was represented at the FIL, but controversial posters were displayed at the party's youth booth.
The leader of Chega, André Ventura, accused the PS this Monday of blocking elections for the external bodies of the Assembly of the Republic and of refusing to allow his party to nominate a candidate for the Constitutional Court.
The PSD (which is going to change the Penal Code), José Luís Carneiro (who tortures the numbers), and Chega (which remains stuck with the poor choices it makes) are the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
The webpage provides a broad overview of current news across various topics, including politics, economy, sports, and international affairs, with some focus on Portugal. Key highlights include political developments such as João Cotrim Figueiredo criticizing legal tactics used by Sócrates, and Ventura from Chega denying any internal disagreements following his removal from a position in Lisbon. In economic news, Casa para Viver issues an open letter regarding the housing emergency in Belém. Sports updates include the FC Porto winning a match in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. International news features the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Middle East tensions involving Netanyahu, and recent health updates on Bolsonaro. Additionally, notable cultural achievements include Amy Madigan winning her first Oscar at age 75 and Cassandra Kulukundis securing the Oscar for Best Casting. Overall, the site offers a snapshot of current events relevant to Portugal and the world.
The SOS Racismo movement has condemned the Chega party for displaying “anti-immigration propaganda” at the Futurália education fair in Lisbon. The party's stand, visited by leader André Ventura, featured posters comparing Portugal to Bangladesh and referencing the “Great Replacement” theory. Those attending the fair should note that the movement has called on the Ministry of Education to clarify the rules for political participation in events aimed at young people.
Chega ("Enough") is a Portuguese far-right populist party founded in 2019 by André Ventura. It positions itself as an anti-establishment movement against what it calls a "rotten and corrupt system" of PS-PSD dominance. The party surged from 1.3% in 2019 to 22.8% in May 2025, becoming parliament's second-largest force with 60 seats. Chega's core platform emphasizes strict immigration control—ending automatic CPLP residency, deporting non-independent immigrants, implementing job-market quotas, and requiring five-year social security contributions before benefit access. It advocates radical constitutional reform, including reducing parliament to 100 members, abolishing the prime minister position for a presidential system, and dismantling public healthcare. Law-and-order policies include life imprisonment and chemical castration proposals.
The party is defined by inflammatory anti-Romani rhetoric, with Ventura convicted multiple times for discrimination. Chega maintains international alignments with European far-right figures including Marine Le Pen, Santiago Abascal, and Matteo Salvini. Mainstream Portuguese parties, including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's government, have imposed a cordon sanitaire, refusing coalition with Chega despite its parliamentary strength.
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.
He announced his 2026 presidential candidacy, polling at 18% alongside independent Admiral Gouveia e Melo. His rise ended Portugal's 50-year resistance to far-right parties.
The Public Prosecution Service (Ministério Público) has archived an investigation into campaign posters by Chega leader André Ventura that targeted the Roma community and immigrants. Prosecutor Carlos Rodrigues concluded that while the messages might be subject to civil or administrative penalties, they do not constitute a crime of incitement to hatred under the Penal Code. The decision emphasizes that the posters are protected by political freedom of expression.
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.
He announced his 2026 presidential candidacy, polling at 18% alongside independent Admiral Gouveia e Melo. His rise ended Portugal's 50-year resistance to far-right parties.
Chega ("Enough") is a Portuguese far-right populist party founded in 2019 by André Ventura. It positions itself as an anti-establishment movement against what it calls a "rotten and corrupt system" of PS-PSD dominance. The party surged from 1.3% in 2019 to 22.8% in May 2025, becoming parliament's second-largest force with 60 seats. Chega's core platform emphasizes strict immigration control—ending automatic CPLP residency, deporting non-independent immigrants, implementing job-market quotas, and requiring five-year social security contributions before benefit access. It advocates radical constitutional reform, including reducing parliament to 100 members, abolishing the prime minister position for a presidential system, and dismantling public healthcare. Law-and-order policies include life imprisonment and chemical castration proposals.
The party is defined by inflammatory anti-Romani rhetoric, with Ventura convicted multiple times for discrimination. Chega maintains international alignments with European far-right figures including Marine Le Pen, Santiago Abascal, and Matteo Salvini. Mainstream Portuguese parties, including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's government, have imposed a cordon sanitaire, refusing coalition with Chega despite its parliamentary strength.
Mafalda Guerra, a Chega activist, was dismissed following an RTP investigation that uncovered her properties being utilized as illegal housing for immigrants in Lisbon. The report raised significant concerns regarding the legality of the rentals and the implications for immigrant communities.
Chega plans to propose the reinstatement of zero VAT on essential goods, a measure they aim to limit until the end of the year. Additionally, the party is advocating for further government action to reduce fuel taxes.
The article critiques Carlos Moedas for his political maneuvers, particularly his secretive agreement with the far-right party Chega, which contradicts his public image as a reformist. It highlights the lack of transparency in his dealings and the implications for his governance in Lisbon, emphasizing that he can no longer blame external factors for inaction. The piece calls for Moedas to focus on effective governance rather than personal political ambitions, as he now holds a majority that was not directly granted by the electorate.
At 18:00, the Chega party lodged a formal complaint reporting incidents of shots fired using prohibited weapons in Lisbon.
