In Évora, at the commencement of the Chega Youth Academy, André Ventura announced that MEP Tiago Moreira de Sá will oversee Foreign Affairs, while Deputy Nuno Simões de Melo will be responsible for Defense.
Meanwhile, Miguel Corte-Real, a candidate for the Porto City Hall in the municipal elections scheduled for October 12, will focus on the state reform sector in the “shadow government,” Ventura added, promising to reveal all names in the coming days.
These names are added to those announced by André Ventura in a Thursday night interview with Now channel, including university professor Teresa Nogueira Pinto, who will manage the Culture and Related Areas, and the former president of the Veterinary Order, Jorge Cid, who will handle agriculture.
On Thursday night, the Chega president further revealed that doctor Horácio Costa will serve as “minister” of Health, Fernando Silva, a member of the National Elections Commission, will take over Internal Administration, and university professor Alexandre Franco de Sá will be responsible for Education.
“Chega has managed to establish a notable team of independent individuals with a presence in civil society and a strong curriculum to undertake an unprecedented challenge in Portugal, which is to create a shadow government that acts as oversight against the current Government,” stated André Ventura.
Regarding Rui Teixeira Santos, a professor at the Instituto Superior de Gestão (ISEG), the Chega leader emphasized that “he has done work in the fields of economy, finance, and also in combating corruption” and has “undeniable knowledge and prestige in terms of his curriculum.”
As for Rui Gomes da Silva, the political leader recalled, “he was indeed a minister in a PSD government” and “has always been a social-democratic militant,” expressing pride in having his contribution to the “shadow government.”
“We will quickly implement an anti-corruption strategy and scrutinize the Government in all areas, also related to corruption, and present proposals,” he noted.
André Ventura stated that many members of this “shadow government” are independent and not connected to Chega, including some who have previously criticized the party.
“I wanted to show the country that it is possible to have a government composed of quality individuals who are willing to perform this work independently and contribute the idea that one can be a competent minister without being directly tied to the party apparatus,” he emphasized.
When asked if the “shadow government” is better than the one led by Luís Montenegro, the Chega president was assertive: “It only makes sense for the opposition leader to present a shadow government if he believes it is much better than the current Government we have.”
André Ventura admitted that for the formation of this “shadow government,” some invites were declined while others volunteered but were not selected by the party.
According to the Chega leader, the party will organize an event in the coming days to present the entire lineup of the “shadow government.”
On May 20, two days after the last legislative elections, the Chega leader announced, following a meeting with the President of the Republic, the plan to present an “alternative government.”
The next day, in an interview with SIC, he indicated it would be a “shadow government” primarily composed of names from outside the party, aiming to have a team ready to govern the country when and if needed.
[Updated at 8:47 PM]
