“Institutionally not from Chega, but from people within Chega, I was”, stated the former CDS-PP leader on SIC Notícias, clarifying that it was not from the party leader, André Ventura.
Manuel Monteiro mentioned he was asked if he would “be available to have a conversation with André Ventura about the presidential elections,” but that dialogue “never happened”.
“I said yes, that I had no problem having that conversation, but I set conditions. And I explained, so that no one would be misled, that at our age, we don’t have time for these things or for ambiguity, that if, a very remote if, there could be the possibility of me being a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic, I would never be a candidate from Chega”, he stated.
The former centrist leader, who is currently the president of the IDL – Instituto Amaro da Costa, stressed that “he could be supported by Chega, but would never be a candidate from Chega”, as he is not a member of that party.
Manuel Monteiro also expressed support for Pedro Passos Coelho if the former prime minister and PSD leader were to run in these presidential elections.
“I believe that Passos Coelho would have been an excellent candidate”, he argued, considering him “a man with a vision for the country” and someone who “is not afraid to tell the truth to people, even if that truth hurts”.
The leader of Chega, André Ventura, is one of the candidates for the presidential elections early next year. Ventura admitted discussing with the party the possibility of supporting Admiral Gouveia and Melo but ultimately reversed that idea and launched his own candidacy.
The presidential elections are scheduled for January 18, 2026.
This marks the 12th time (including the two rounds of the 1986 elections) since 1976 that the Portuguese are called upon to choose the President of the Republic in a democratic process.
Among others, the presidential candidates announced include António Filipe (supported by the PCP), António José Seguro (backed by the PS), André Ventura (supported by Chega), Catarina Martins (supported by the BE), Henrique Gouveia e Melo, João Cotrim Figueiredo (supported by the Iniciativa Liberal), Jorge Pinto (supported by Livre), and Luís Marques Mendes (supported by the PSD).
According to the candidacy portal from the Ministry of Home Affairs, another 31 citizens are collecting signatures for a presidential bid.
