In a significant political development in Portugal, Pedro Pinto, the parliamentary leader of the Chega party, declared that the previous day marked a historic event for both the nation’s political landscape and Chega itself, asserting that “bipartisanship has ended.”
Speaking in an interview, Pinto remarked, “We realized this last year, yet never before has a political party intervened in such a manner, potentially becoming the second political force, a scenario likely to materialize with the votes from overseas Portuguese.”
Highlighting the evolving role of Chega, the lawmaker emphasized the increased responsibility the party now holds, promising to place the needs of the Portuguese people first.
Pinto expressed the party’s openness to dialogue, stating, “We are a responsible party from the outset,” reflecting on their readiness to negotiate with Luís Montenegro since March 10, 2024.
He criticized Montenegro’s past stance of refusal, noting, “Someone didn’t want to dialogue with us—Luís Montenegro with his ‘no is no.’ I believe he regrets that now, as the narrative of ‘no is no’ was conspicuously absent during the election campaign.”
Reaffirming Chega’s willingness to engage in discourse, Pinto clarified that this openness is not unconditional and acknowledged the legitimate election victory of the PSD, insisting that “those who win must know how to build alliances.”
“Either they engage in dialogue with Chega or with the Socialist Party, as they did in the last legislative sessions, which didn’t end well for them,” he remarked.
Addressing future governance possibilities, Pinto declared Chega’s readiness to support a government solution, whether or not they participate directly, while urging Montenegro for transparency regarding the family business Spinumviva.
“He hasn’t been transparent in the family business case, and that’s what we demand,” Pinto reiterated.
He emphasized the significance of a dialogue between the government and Chega, acknowledging an inquiry into Spinumviva wasn’t currently being considered, as the party awaits Montenegro’s responses to pending questions.
On potential presidential candidacy, Pinto affirmed that Chega would field a candidate, likely not André Ventura, with “98/99% certainty” and meanwhile emphasized their goal to become a governing party, focusing heavily on forthcoming local elections.
Though candidates are being considered, Pinto refrained from disclosing names.
On the topic of Chega’s shift from a protest vote to a deliberate choice, he noted that over time, “people have started to take Chega seriously” and asserted, “Chega has proven to be a serious party.”
He added, “Never has a party broken the bipartisanship before… it indicates that Chega is a party of power, one capable of winning elections,” with the party’s primary goal to win at the ballot.
Referring to André Ventura’s earlier statement about settling scores, Pinto framed it as addressing a historical reckoning over the past 50 years when the left allegedly mistreated the Portuguese populace.
In anticipation of dialogue with the President of the Republic on Tuesday, Pinto reiterated Chega’s willingness to engage, stressing that any failure to establish a government wouldn’t be due to their reluctance. However, he warned against the “arrogance” Montenegro displayed in the past and during a recent speech.
