The leader of Chega, André Ventura, and the presidential candidate Henrique Gouveia e Melo met for a lunch at the end of August. The gathering took place at the estate of Mário Ferreira.
Mário Ferreira, who has previously expressed support for the admiral, facilitated the meeting held at Quinta da Carlota near Torres Vedras. The lunch aimed for Gouveia Melo and Ventura to discuss matters of mutual interest.
Duarte Marques, campaign director for Luís Marques Mendes, questioned “the non-partisanship of Gouveia e Melo” and suggested that the participants in the lunch “have an obligation to provide public clarifications on this matter.”
The former social-democratic deputy also stated that the lunch “further emphasizes André Ventura’s tendency for political zigzags.”
“The non-partisanship of Gouveia e Melo”
This news raises a lot of questions: first, Mário Ferreira. This initiative by a major supporter of Gouveia e Melo and owner of TVI explains much of what happens in Media Capital outside the journalists’ scope; (continues) pic.twitter.com/vdZA25GVrM— Duarte Marques (@DuarteMarques) September 12, 2025
It is remembered that in May, days after Gouveia e Melo announced his intention to run for the presidency, André Ventura did not rule out potential support, advocating for a “strong, independent candidate, above party interests, firm in the fight against corruption.”
At the time, Chega’s leader refused to support Luís Marques Mendes (who already has the backing of the Social Democratic Party), arguing that the former social-democratic leader represented “the worst the system has in terms of apparatus, careerism, and connections to the central system of interests.”
Ventura with One Foot In and One Foot Out of the Presidential Race
In January, Ventura announced his candidacy for the presidency, following his third-place finish in 2021 with 11.90% of the vote. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was re-elected President with over 60% of the votes, while Ana Gomes secured 12.97%.
However, in March, amid a new political crisis in Portugal due to the Spinumviva case, Ventura admitted he might withdraw his candidacy, stating that the “scenario has changed.”
“The scenario has changed, the context is different, and my primary and greatest responsibility as the party leader, which will not change in the coming weeks, is to lead Chega in the legislative elections,” André Ventura stated at the time.
The Chega president admitted today to possibly withdrawing his presidential candidacy, claiming that the political context has shifted and his “primary and greatest responsibility as the party leader” is to contest the legislative elections.
Lusa | 19:29 – 06/03/2025
On Friday, the newspaper Nascer do SOL published an interview with André Ventura, where the Chega leader confirmed he would proceed with a candidacy to Belém and had considered supporting Gouveia e Melo.
He also stated that if he reaches a second round, he will be the “candidate of the right,” unless “Passos Coelho were a candidate.”
Chega also convenes its National Council in Lisbon tonight to discuss the presidential elections. The decision is expected to be announced by Monday.
In an interview with CNN Portugal on Tuesday, the Chega president had already indicated that “between the 12th and 15th, Chega will present a presidential candidate.” However, he argued that his candidacy would be “a bad sign for democracy.”
“It is a bad sign for democracy if I run,” he stated, arguing that “the leader of the opposition should not simultaneously be a presidential candidate,” only “as a last resort.”
