“The health of democracy today is at stake. I believe everyone should vote, regardless of their choice, do not let others choose for you today. Make your choice, leave home, choose the country’s future, whatever it may be, whoever it may be. Today is in our hands,” he urged.
André Ventura spoke to journalists after voting at a school in the civil parish of Parque das Nações, in Lisbon, where he resides.
“For the love of God, vote. Leave home, do not let anyone choose for you, do not just complain on social media, on television, in newspapers, leave home and vote,” he stated.
Ventura noted that “abstention is always a risk, not a risk for a party, but a risk for democracy as a whole,” and argued that “democracy’s health does not improve when people do not vote.”
The leader of Chega considered it “always a risk in democracy” when “many electoral acts are all together and consecutive.”
“I think people understand the moment, let’s say, the entire burden of the moment we are in. People are not only choosing a parliament but also a government, in fact, a government that will govern for the next year in a specific constitutional context as well, and this means they should not leave in others’ hands this opportunity, they should choose themselves,” he emphasized.
André Ventura also expressed optimism about what will happen tonight.
The Chega leader said he feels better after two health episodes during the election campaign, which required hospital care, and will accompany the election night with leaders and supporters at the hotel chosen by the party for the event.
André Ventura said he is medicated and will undergo further tests, following medical advice, and indicated he will have “some special care” tonight due to the “emotions of a day like today.”
The president of Chega indicated he plans to rest during the day, attend mass, and then proceed to the chosen location to follow the election night.
André Ventura was also questioned about the alleged assault on the president of the Santa Maria Maior civil parish board in Lisbon by a purported Chega supporter and condemned the incident.
“Our form of revolt, so to speak, is the vote. It is peaceful, it is about following the rules, it is democratic, it is going to vote,” he replied.
Ventura considered that “many people are upset, many want change” and argued that “today is the day to show that, to vote, not with aggression, nor with improper behavior.”
“If we want a country that abides by rules, we have to be the first to follow rules and set an example. Therefore, I address everyone, especially our supporters, if you are listening to me now, express yourselves in the democratic way that there is to express. Calmly, with firmness, but calmly, following the rules, going to vote, so we can change things through the vote,” he stressed.
According to the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Internal Administration (SGMAI), 10.8 million voters are eligible to vote in these elections.
A total of 230 deputies will be elected in 22 electoral circles, 18 in mainland Portugal and the rest in the Azores, Madeira, Europe, and outside Europe.
The electoral act will have a cost of about 26.5 million euros.
Twenty-one political forces are running in these elections, three more than in the elections of March last year.
