The Chega party unveiled its electoral program for the upcoming legislative elections scheduled for May 18, under the theme “Salvar Portugal,” during an event at a hotel in Lisbon. The presentation, led by party president André Ventura, lasted an hour and a half, and contrary to previous announcements, did not include a Q&A session with journalists.
One of the party’s key proposals is to “stimulate and encourage the construction of affordable housing through public-private partnerships by utilizing public land with a 90-year concession and establishing controlled rent prices.”
Chega also suggests a “reduced VAT rate (6%) for project and construction services of residential properties.”
In its electoral plan released today, the party advocates for increasing the exemption period for the Municipal Property Transfer Tax (IMT) and Stamp Duty from 35 to 40 years for first-time home purchases up to 400,000 euros, alongside an exemption from the Municipal Property Tax (IMI) for “principal residence” properties of the same value.
Additional housing-focused proposals include “streamlining urban licensing by ensuring tacit approval when maximum defined timelines are exceeded,” and setting “realistic targets with regular monitoring and adequate resource allocation” to reduce the processing periods for licensing requests.
In the forthcoming elections, Chega also plans to introduce “public tenders for private companies interested in developing housing projects on public land” and push for “IMT and IMI exemptions for those constructing or rehabilitating properties for affordable rent.”
Another initiative involves rehabilitating public heritage and abolishing “price control measures in the rental market.”
For the next legislative session, Chega intends to promote a revision of the Land Law to improve transparency in land reclassification, particularly in agricultural and ecological reserve zones.”
The party aims to “amend the Mais Habitação package to remove penalties that deter investment in the sector,” as well as revise the Rent Law to “eliminate the freeze imposed by the previous regime and ensure rent updates based on inflation.”
Chega expresses a stance of “zero tolerance for illegal occupations,” proposing the “strengthening of legal mechanisms to swiftly remove illegal occupants, with law enforcement intervention,” according to the program document.
“We will ensure that squatters find no peace,” Ventura declared during his speech, emphasizing the need for action “before the phenomenon expands even further.” He described the situation as “a crime” warranting “swift eviction and imprisonment of the squatter by the State.”
The party seeks to “simplify eviction processes for contract violations, ensuring a swift judicial process with maximum decision deadlines.”
In health, Chega aims to “reform the Basic Health Law by introducing new management models and public-private partnerships” in addition to implementing “panic buttons” for healthcare professionals.
The party intends to repeal the euthanasia law, enhance continuous care services, and regulate “the inappropriate use of the National Health Service (SNS) by non-resident foreigners.”
Chega also proposes extending parental leave to 12 months and eliminating VAT on baby food.
