In a press conference at the headquarters of Chega in Lisbon, André Ventura refrained from using the term ‘red lines’ regarding three specific measures, but stated that they represent the “obvious corollary” of what was approved the previous day in parliament concerning immigration and foreign national laws, which he described as resulting from an “understanding” with AD.
“We are fully aware that some of these proposals have budgetary implications, and Chega obviously did not, nor could, commit to the next State Budget [OE2026], but the principle we hold today is a path being made to ensure these matters also have budgetary implementation,” he remarked.
According to the Chega leader, “it would be somewhat naive to pretend” that these changes won’t have “implications in the drafting and construction of the next State Budget for the coming year.”
“Does this mean that Chega is bound to this State Budget? Well, I wouldn’t use that expression, but Chega is responsibly committed to ensuring that this State Budget will indeed materialize these changes we agreed upon,” he emphasized, responding to journalists.
Stating that “the Government will find in Chega a party firm in its convictions,” Ventura warned that “it will want to see these realities materialized in the State Budget,” adding that he provided “three examples to make them clear.”
The creation of a subsidy inspection police, the allocation of a supplement to police officers of the new National Unit of Foreigners and Borders within PSP, and the establishment of deportation centers in the country are these three measures and are “matters of budgetary impact,” he acknowledged.
“The prime minister is aware, we are also aware, and thus we express our willingness to work within this new political framework,” he stated.
When asked if these are red lines for budget negotiation, the president of Chega replied: “I would not say red lines. This is the normal implementation of what we agreed upon and, now, it will have to have consequences in the State Budget.”
The Committee on Constitutional Affairs voted favorably on Friday, in the specialty, changes to the law on foreigners, with opposition from the left, which claimed breaches of the law due to the lack of mandatory opinions.
Up for vote was a government bill and changes requested by Chega, focusing on issues such as family reunification and legal residence times in national territory, approved by the entire right-wing parliamentary groups (PSD, CDS-PP, Chega, and Liberal Initiative).
According to the left, this specialty process lacks opinions from the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM) and the Superior Council of Administrative and Tax Courts (CSTAF).
The government’s proposal to create the new National Unit of Foreigners and Borders within PSP was also approved, with votes in favor from PSD, Chega, IL, and CDS, and abstention from the left.
Even though this bill was passed without opposing votes, its vote was delayed by about three hours due to a political impasse between Chega and PSD over the potential payment of a supplement to agents of this new PSP unit.
