In a Thursday night interview with the Now channel, André Ventura announced the initial members of a shadow cabinet, appointing professor and author Teresa Nogueira Pinto to manage the “culture and related areas” and former president of the Veterinary Medical Association, Jorge Cid, to oversee agriculture.
The Chega leader also noted that Fernando Silva, a member of the National Elections Commission, would take charge of internal administration, while health responsibilities would be entrusted to Horácio Costa, a physician and the founder and director of the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery service at Gaia and Espinho’s Local Health Unit.
Included in this group is university professor Alexandre Franco de Sá, responsible for education, science, and innovation portfolios, according to an official party source.
Teresa Nogueira Pinto, Fernando Silva, and Horácio Costa have previously participated as speakers in party initiatives, such as parliamentary days.
In addition to these individuals, Chega’s “shadow government” will also comprise deputies, Ventura indicated.
Regarding the remaining names, which have already been communicated to the party’s National Directorate, Ventura mentioned they would be unveiled today.
“My concept was to introduce a shadow government at the right moment and with independent and quality names,” he stated, emphasizing these are individuals with “proven experience in civil society,” not formed by the party card.
The Chega president stressed that these individuals “will intervene, scrutinize the areas under their purview, and put forward proposals.”
“So that when the electoral moment arrives, people realize it’s not just one candidate, not just André Ventura; there are candidates, there are names, work is done in various areas,” he argued, aiming to demonstrate to the Portuguese that “Chega is ready to govern.”
On May 20, two days following the last legislative elections, the Chega leader announced, after a meeting with the President, the introduction of an “alternative government.”
The next day, in an interview with SIC, Ventura highlighted it would be a “shadow government” consisting largely of individuals from outside the party, aiming to have a team ready to govern the country as needed.
Later, on June 6, he indicated that invitations would begin that day. In July, he postponed the announcement until before the resumption of parliamentary work, recently stating that this group of figures would be presented on Thursday, September 18.
