The leader of Chega announced on Thursday that he would submit the names for a proposed shadow cabinet to the party’s National Directorate for approval on the same day.
“Today, I will send to the National Directorate of the party for approval – as was assured – the list of the entire shadow cabinet,” stated André Ventura, who attended a demonstration outside the Assembly of the Republic for the second consecutive day, this time with veterans from the Colonial War.
The Chega leader did not clarify whether these names would be made public, but it is known from his own statements that the presentation of this list is considerably delayed.
Two days after the legislative elections on May 20, the Chega leader announced, following an audience with the President of the Republic, that he would present “an alternative government.”
The following day, in an interview with SIC, he indicated that it would be a “shadow government” largely comprising individuals from outside the party, with the objective of having a team ready to govern the country if necessary.
In another interview on May 21 with TVI and CNN Portugal, André Ventura stated that Chega would present “in the coming weeks” a “shadow government to oversee the activities of the government in various areas,” consisting of “independents, valuable individuals from civil society, people with credentials in health, housing, economics.”
Later, on June 6, he mentioned that he would start extending invitations that very day.
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Eleven days later, on June 17, after the state of the nation debate, Ventura stated he was finalizing the invitations and expected the alternative executive to be ready “in the coming weeks.”
When asked if he planned to present the “shadow government” before the resumption of parliamentary work on September 17, André Ventura replied: “Not even if Jesus came back to earth, we would not have the shadow government before the parliamentary sessions resume,” affirming that the names would be presented during the summer.
The Chega leader deferred the presentation of the shadow cabinet list, which was promised two months ago following the May elections, to before the resumption of parliamentary work on September 17.
Lusa | 20:32 – 17/07/2025
One day after the deadline set by André Ventura himself, he admits that the list is only now being submitted for party approval – four months after it was promised by the Chega leader.
