The leader of Chega, André Ventura, urged voters to rally behind his party, emphasizing strategic voting to prevent the Socialist Party from winning. “Where we came close to first place, we can win with a useful vote for Chega. The right should consolidate votes for Chega if they don’t want the PS to win,” he stated.
The campaign day for Ventura began in the district of Guarda, in Sabugal, where he was joined by Francisco Barros, a candidate for mayor in a district currently led by the PSD. During the last legislative elections, Chega ranked as the second most voted party in this municipality, and Ventura expressed confidence in capturing the council in the upcoming Sunday elections.
As in many parts of the country, Ventura was met with supporters seeking photos, autographs, and offering words of encouragement.
However, Maria, a Romani woman, expressed her dissent, shouting “racist” as Ventura’s caravan passed, accompanied by her mother, Antónia, and another woman.
“You’re mistaken. We want the Romani people to work,” retorted Ventura, engaging in conversation with Maria and Antónia.
Maria responded, “We do work. Markets are nothing without the Romani, we work from four in the morning until five in the afternoon and pay our taxes,” asserting their Portuguese identity.
Ventura argued that “this doesn’t happen in much of the country.”
Maria countered, “You would be king of Portugal, you would win elections with all the Romani votes, but you don’t want that.”
“I want everyone to follow the rules in this country, I don’t want to be king of anything,” replied Ventura.
Maria later told journalists that in Sabugal, “nobody likes” Ventura.
“We’re all PSD. Here, the PSD wins,” she asserted.
Following this exchange, Ventura told journalists that such debates are acceptable as long as there is “mutual respect.”
“No aggressions, no attacks, just dialogue,” he advocated.
Earlier in the day, Ventura, who highlighted his “religious connection” to Sabugal, made a stop at a local church during the walkabout.
He later told journalists that he was there to “give thanks for the health and strength” he has had “for this campaign,” noting that “the last one didn’t go very well.”
The campaign trail continued to the district of Viseu, with a stop in Mangualde, another municipality where Chega was second in the legislatives. A midday walkabout with António Silva, the party’s candidate for the council, followed.
After numerous photos, a coffee break followed.
With two days left in the campaign, despite being “a bit under the weather and hoarse,” Ventura expressed confidence in persevering, noting that sugar in his coffee helps.
