“That the Socialist Party was a sold-out party, we already knew. This is no surprise,” criticized André Ventura.
Speaking to journalists at the Assembly of the Republic after meeting with his “shadow government,” the Chega leader stated that his party “does not hand out blank checks or cards” and asserted that “the vote is not for sale, surrender, or trade” and that “it is crucial that the causes are carried out.”
“We want a budget that meets people’s aspirations, and we do not sell or surrender budget support for tactical or political reasons. What drives us are the causes, not tactics. José Luís Carneiro wants the budget to pass quickly and for the issue to disappear. The country is more than our political tactics; the country demands causes,” he emphasized.
André Ventura also indicated that Chega will “demand and negotiate the budget.”
“PS and PSD, we know they’ve always been together. Chega is the leader of the opposition, and this is how we will lead this process, demanding that those who voted now bring to the budget consequences, such as tax reductions, no increase in fuel taxes, and support for the country’s fundamental areas, as well as State reform, which was also promised and is severely lacking in this budget,” he said.
The Chega leader advocated for the reduction of indirect taxes, an increase in budget allocations to “combat insecurity and corruption,” more support for veterans, and measures to tackle the housing crisis.
André Ventura also announced that today he gave elected municipal leaders from Chega in Sunday’s elections “a directive to immediately begin a survey of all social subsidies and supports paid to minorities who don’t work for this to end in Portugal.”
“And this is a revolution that will happen in municipalities. This must happen in the State Budget as well,” he stated.
The socialist secretary-general, José Luís Carneiro, announced a “demanding abstention” in the State Budget for 2026 to “ensure the country’s political stability,” despite criticizing the Government’s budget proposal.
The announcement followed a meeting of the PS National Political Commission, which concluded in the early hours and occurred after a meeting on Tuesday with the PS parliamentary group regarding the party’s position on the OS2026.
