Presidential candidate António Filipe criticized Chega leader André Ventura after he confused the Bürgerfest in Germany with a “hamburger festival.” Filipe issued a warning to voters who will soon elect a new President of the Republic.
“If André Ventura runs for the Presidency, voters will have to decide if they want a President who bases their political action on lies, hatred, and intolerance. Someone who has difficulty distinguishing a citizen from a hamburger,” he wrote on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
On Wednesday, Chega’s leader shared a video on his social media accusing Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Republic, of traveling to Germany for a hamburger festival, referring to the Bürgerfest, which is actually a Citizens’ Festival in Berlin.
If André Ventura runs for the Presidency, voters will have to decide if they want a President who bases their political action on lies, hatred, and intolerance. Someone who has difficulty distinguishing a citizen from a hamburger.
— Antonio Filipe (@AntonioFilipe) September 12, 2025
On Thursday, speaking to journalists during a visit to Agroglobal in Santarém, André Ventura admitted to making a “mistake.” However, he justified it by stating that the President of the Republic has repeatedly made “trips at the taxpayers’ expense,” arguing that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa should not be going to Germany.
“I have lapses just like everyone else does. And when I have a lapse – as I had the opportunity to see yesterday and correct – this lapse arises from the fact that the President of the Republic has been a king and master of absolutely unnecessary trips at the taxpayers’ expense,” he explained.
Chega’s leader refuses to apologize to the President of the Republic for confusing Bürgerfest in Germany with a “hamburger festival,” maintaining his opposition to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s trip to the country – even if it is an invitation from the German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Tomásia Sousa | 15:58 – 11/09/2025
On Thursday as well, the President of the Republic – already in Germany – declined to comment on Ventura’s publication.
“I saw [Ventura’s accusation] and I think all the Portuguese saw, but I will not comment,” he said.
He explained: “I will not comment for a very simple reason. When I’m abroad, I talk about the good things of Portugal. I won’t criticize. I don’t come abroad to criticize Portugal. Abroad, I only comment on good things.”
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who is already in Germany, refused to comment on Ventura’s incorrect claim that he was attending a “hamburger festival.” “Abroad, I only comment on good things,” he justified.
Márcia Guímaro Rodrigues | 16:50 – 11/09/2025
Internet (and politicians) did not forgive Ventura’s “lapse”
On social media, reactions ranged from disbelief to irony. Rui Rocha, former leader of the Liberal Initiative (IL) and party candidate for the Braga City Council, was one who reacted humorously to the ‘confusion,’ noting that “the Hamburger Festival crisis is not a topic for the Assembly of the Republic.”
Former Education Minister João Costa had already teased the Chega leader on Facebook.
“Tell André Ventura that, if the PR [President of the Republic] goes to Cameroon, it’s not a seafood festival,” he wrote.
The confusion with the translation of the event’s name led the Chega leader to delete the video he posted on social media. But it was too late: netizens (and Ventura’s political opponents) did not let the blunder pass and made jokes about the situation.
Tomásia Sousa | 16:39 – 11/09/2025
