
“For the PSD to be talking about the State Budget across all municipalities shows that they have no local projects, fear losing the municipalities, and that their mayors don’t have much to say, because otherwise, they wouldn’t be talking about things that have already been approved,” criticized André Ventura.
Speaking to journalists in Elvas, Portalegre district, the Chega leader stated that the Prime Minister “wants to avoid the public somewhat in these elections” and, therefore, chooses to make “a series of government announcements.”
“He goes to places, announces projects or inaugurates them, or has now decided to start talking about the State Budget because he knows he has nothing more to offer locally,” he insisted.
André Ventura noted that “everything has its timing,” and that of the State Budget for the next year “begins after the municipal elections, and that is also respecting the voters.”
The Chega president also remarked that “so far the only things the Prime Minister has said about the budget are things that were agreed” with his party, “there is nothing new,” citing the IRS reduction as an example.
“In the proposal that led to the agreement with the PSD initially, Chega proposed the increase in tax deductions for housing. Now the Prime Minister comes to announce the increase in tax deductions for housing. Therefore, what the Prime Minister is stating is what Chega proposed to him and what he communicated to Chega,” Ventura argued.
“What is important is that the document truly enshrines a tax reduction, an increase in deductions, and greater allocation to justice and crime combat. This was the commitment made with us. Therefore, if this commitment is realized, he will merely be performing his duty, frankly,” he indicated.
When questioned about Chega’s voting intention regarding the document to be submitted to parliament on Friday, André Ventura deemed it premature to discuss, stating that it’s necessary to first know the budget.
“We are still in a very early stage; we don’t know what the document is, we haven’t looked at it, and we know one thing, the PSD has deceived us and the voters several times,” he criticized, emphasizing the need to “wait and see if the commitments that were made are reflected there.”
Asked if he would vote for the budget alongside the PS, André Ventura said that Chega would vote “alongside the Portuguese,” asserting that “political color does not matter, only the proposals do.”
Ventura also reiterated that Chega will propose including a “supplement for former combatants” and a permanent increase in pensions in the 2026 State Budget, noting that these are issues the “Prime Minister has shown openness towards.”