Former CPD President Elsa Abreu has announced that coordinators from four municipalities — Viana do Castelo, Caminha, Valença, and Monção — have resigned from their party positions for the same reason she did.
“The only CPD member who has not left the party is Germano Miranda, a former overseas combatant and retired CTT employee, because he holds the third position on the list,” explained Abreu.
In 2024, former Social Democrat Eduardo Teixeira gained the first seat in parliament for Chega and is once again the number one candidate for the Viana do Castelo constituency.
Mecia Martins, the former deputy mayor of Ponte de Lima (CDS-PP), is running in second place.
Elsa Abreu noted that “CPD was neither considered nor consulted in structuring the candidate list for the parliamentary elections.”
“After months of countless meeting requests with the National Directorate (DN) and the National Jurisdiction Council (CJN) to discuss district-level concerns since the last elections, all we received was silence until we were suddenly presented with candidate lists,” said Abreu in a statement.
She mentioned that it was requested by Chega President André Ventura for her to provide a list of candidates, which she promptly did.
“We received no responses from the DN, just an internal campaign coordination instruction, ironically, to be ready for the campaign on the ground without knowing even who we would be electing,” she added.
“It has been five years of working to establish Chega in the Viana do Castelo district, efforts that have cost us physically and financially, which were dismantled by the DN’s imposition,” she emphasized.
In a statement, Natividade Barbosa, former vice-president of CPD for Chega of Viana do Castelo, who also resigned, cited her placement, third on the list, as the reason for her departure from the May 18th legislative list.
Barbosa said she was informed on April 4 by Eduardo Teixeira of being invited again to the Viana do Castelo electoral circle but this time for the third spot, assuring her a position within the national structure of the party in Lisbon.
“I immediately refused, as I fortunately do not need crumbs nor to beg. I live well with my work. After all I have given to the party — from building the local base to being present on the streets when no one else would show their face — I cannot accept being placed behind those who never fought nor built anything for Chega in the Viana do Castelo district,” she underlined.
Barbosa stated that “the people recognize those with principles, who fought with truth, who weren’t afraid to show their face when no one else would.”
“It is out of respect for these people that I am ending my active participation in this structure of the Chega Party. I refuse to play into power grabs, betrayals or backstage games. I have values and principles instilled in me since childhood by my father — Ermesindo Barbosa, recently deceased from Paredes de Coura — who taught me what it means to be Minhota: to have word, honor, and never sell one’s values,” she added.
The former vice-president remarked that “politics, unfortunately, teach that there are no friends — only interests.”
“I leave with my head held high, with a clear conscience, with sincere friendships I have made along the way, and certain that I have never bowed to those who tried to silence me,” she declared.
