André Ventura made two significant pledges on Sunday evening in the Azores, stating that these would be implemented either if his party wins the legislative elections or gains a position to influence the next government’s decisions.
“Firstly, we will ensure that the children of working parents receive priority access to nurseries across the national territory. We want to guarantee that those who are employed have priority in placing their children,” he declared.
The second pledge pertains to the fight against corruption, as mentioned by the leader of Chega in a speech at a dinner rally attended by approximately 200 party members and supporters in Ribeira Grande, São Miguel Island, Azores, during the pre-election campaign.
“Our life’s mission, rooted in the history of this party, is that not on day two, three, five, or ten after winning the elections, but on day one, we will present in Lisbon the largest anti-corruption package in Portugal’s history,” Ventura stated.
He pointed out that the situation involving Prime Minister Luís Montenegro “is not much different from what happened with José Sócrates some years ago.”
“Many of us were lenient, thinking, let the man work, this is persecution. We became a nation tolerant of corruption and minor enrichment, all while telling ourselves that everyone does the same,” he explained.
Arguing against the notion that “everyone does the same,” he called for the country to take “a step back” historically.
“What is needed, and what we propose to do on day one [after the elections], is that anyone with strong indications of corruption sees their assets — listen, read my lips — all of them seized to the last cent, all seized to the last cent of their bank accounts,” Ventura declared.
“If we do this, they will begin to think, ‘it is not worth it, it is dangerous, it is a risk to me and my family’. Until we do this, my friends, we will not be a country better than other South American countries inundated with corruption,” he continued.
Thus, he remarked that the challenge of May 18 “is not small.”
“Let no one vote for me, let no one vote for Francisco [Lima, the top candidate in the Azores], let no one vote for Chega if they want a government like the PSD or the PS. Let no one vote for Chega if they don’t want to make a real cut, like you have never seen in your life,” Ventura concluded his speech.
The regional leader of Chega/Azores, José Pacheco, highlighted several long-discussed issues in the region, questioning, “What are our elected deputies from the Azores doing?”
Meanwhile, Francisco Lima, the top candidate for the Azores electoral district and current regional deputy, stated that electing a Chega deputy from the Azores to the Assembly of the Republic “will speak differently” and contribute to solving many of the archipelago’s problems.
In the March 2024 elections, the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition won the Azores electoral district with 39.84% of the 106,273 votes, electing two deputies, followed by the PS with 29.18% and two deputies, and Chega with 15.76% of the votes, gaining one deputy (Miguel Arruda, who became independent due to suspicions of luggage theft at airports).
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