In a face-to-face debate characterized by several tense exchanges, aired on RTP3, André Ventura, leader of Chega, was questioned about the Health sector but shifted the focus to immigration. This discussion followed reports that the immigrant population in the country is approximately 1.6 million.
Ventura argued that the rising immigrant population contributes to “chaos in healthcare” and maintained that Portuguese citizens should have “privileged access” to the National Health Service over foreign nationals—whose contributions to Social Security are projected to reach a record 3.6 billion euros in 2024.
“Rui Tavares wants a National Health Service that is like an open bar, regardless of whether they have contributed or not. We demand that those who come here for treatment must have paid something into the Portuguese health service,” Ventura stated, advocating that immigrants should contribute for at least five years before accessing healthcare.
Livre’s spokesperson Rui Tavares countered, noting that “the NHS currently operates with the help of immigrants quite often.”
“It would be the greatest injustice to say, ‘You come here, help the National Health Service, pay taxes for the National Health Service, work in the National Health Service, but you are not treated here.’ It would be a tremendous injustice to tell a child who didn’t choose to be born Portuguese or immigrant, living here and arriving at two or three years old, like many children of Portuguese parents,” Tavares argued.
Saying that the NHS “is fighting blindfolded with its hands tied behind its back,” Tavares advocated for legislation requiring private health providers to share the same information as the NHS and proposed a “Return Program” to incentivize emigrated health professionals to return to Portugal.
On the matter of tariffs imposed by Donald Trump’s administration on several countries, including those in the European Union, when asked if he regretted supporting the Republican, Ventura said that Trump is doing in the U.S. what Europe should also do.
“We need to protect Europe from China, India, and external markets, or protect our agriculture, our workers, our automotive industry, or else we will end up being a stronghold of China, India, and those countries. Donald Trump is doing in the United States what we need to do in Europe. Protect our workers,” he advocated.
Ventura even adapted Trump’s slogan, suggesting he wants to “make Portugal great again.”
“I know Livre doesn’t believe that, but I do. We have a nine-century history. Our history is not to be thrown away in ‘woke’ culture and LGBTQIA+, as Livre wants,” he remarked.
Rui Tavares emphasized that Trump’s tariffs would hurt “even more those who are poorer” and suggested the need to “travel around the country” to inform Portuguese workers in sectors like olive oil, cork, or wine, about the impact of these measures and “who stood with Trump.”
During this point in the debate, when Tavares mentioned a Livre proposal to form a “European Defense community,” Ventura repeatedly asked if Livre’s candidate supported Portugal leaving NATO.
“What I advocate is building a European Defense community, inside or outside NATO, and it’s quite possible the United States will leave NATO beforehand,” Tavares said.
Ventura accused Tavares of “absolute irresponsibility.” Tavares responded, noting that “Denmark is part of NATO and Donald Trump wants a piece of Denmark, which is Greenland,” adding: “One day Trump might remember the Azores exist and want them; what will André Ventura do then?”
Later in the debate, directly addressing the camera, Rui Tavares stated that Chega, whose banners feature Ventura asking for “an opportunity” to govern, had “fifty opportunities,” referring to legislators elected in the last elections and criticizing their ethical conduct.
[Updated at 23:47]
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