Chega's André Ventura announces 2026 presidential bid
He said that he will officially launch his campaign on February 28 at the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon.
What?
André Ventura, leader of the far-right Chega party, has announced his candidacy for the 2026 presidential election.
The announcement was made in a letter sent to Chega’s parliamentary deputies, following backing from the party’s leadership.
The news was first reported by SIC Notícias and confirmed by Observador.
Reasons Behind the Decision
In the letter, accessed by Observador, Ventura cited “several reasons” for his decision, primarily the need for a candidate to represent an “anti-corruption and anti-immigration right-wing” platform.
He criticized politicians who have long opposed such stances but now seek to co-opt the political space occupied by Chega.
Describing his candidacy as one with “risks,” Ventura said its purpose is to ensure Chega’s support is not given to candidates who dismiss or disparage the party.
“We cannot lend votes to those who do not want, do not deserve, or outright reject Chega’s backing,” he wrote.
This announcement follows Chega’s decision not to support frontrunner Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, whom the party initially considered endorsing.
Gouveia e Melo’s self-identification as “pragmatic center” and criticisms of “oversimplified and potentially dangerous political solutions” led Chega to reconsider.
Instead, the party opted to back a candidate of its own, further distancing itself from mainstream right-wing figures.
A Challenge to Bipartisanship
Ventura’s letter framed his candidacy as a challenge to the entrenched political system in Portugal.
He expressed his intent to oppose what he described as the dominance of centrist bipartisanship, which he believes perpetuates corruption and cronyism.
“We cannot allow the center-right and center-left to continue dominating Portuguese politics, entrenching a corrupt regime of interests that has taken hold in recent decades,” Ventura wrote.
Focus on Security
As expected, another key theme of Ventura’s campaign is public security. He emphasized the need for a president who unequivocally supports law enforcement and the judiciary in combating crime.
“We need a President who will side with law-abiding citizens against criminals and push for green lights to law enforcement to act decisively against criminal organizations that threaten public safety,” Ventura said.
Ventura revealed that his campaign would officially launch on February 28, 2025, at the Jerónimos Monastery. He requested confidentiality from recipients of the letter until the formal announcement.
A Return to the Presidential Race
This marks Ventura’s second run for the presidency; he previously contested the 2021 presidential elections.
His announcement positions him as a prominent candidate in a race where, thus far, only André Pestana, leader of the STOP teachers’ union, has officially declared his candidacy.
As the race for Portugal’s presidency unfolds, Ventura’s entry signals a potential shift in the political landscape, with Chega seeking to solidify its influence as a right-wing alternative to the traditional political establishment.
This move was pretty evident with the new giant billboards of Mr. Ventura in our area, the Western Algarve (perhaps also in other parts of the country?).
One asks where’s Chega’s money coming from and is it the same source that is funding other far right parties across Europe.