“These mayors will be the model for Chega’s governance. The heavy responsibility on them is significant, and we must have zero tolerance for corruption. This must also apply to mayors; it is a fundamental requirement,” stated André Ventura.
The penultimate day of Chega’s campaign for the upcoming municipal elections on Sunday began in Gondomar, in the Porto district, with a visit to the weekly market, accompanied by the party’s candidate for municipal leadership, Rui Afonso.
During this visit, as has been customary throughout the campaign, André Ventura drew the attention of the public, with dozens of people eager to express their support, greet him, and take photographs with him.
The leader of Chega, who is also running for President of the Republic in the January elections, denied these days serve as a test for that campaign but argued that “there is a very strong national political presence in municipal politics.”
“There is now widespread support for Chega, a force that I am certain will have an impact in these elections because people want to bring the country to order, that’s what we hear most, bring Portugal to order,” he argued.
“Since April 25, no party has threatened the territorial dominance of other parties in municipalities. It already happened on May 18, with the breakdown of the two-party system, and the two-party system will break again on the 12th; that is the main objective,” Ventura added.
When questioned about the 11 out of 19 councilors elected by Chega in 2021 who have since left the party or their positions, the leader maintained that his political force elected “hundreds of mayors across the country,” referring to municipal deputies and parish council members, and claimed that “more than 90% are with the party.”
André Ventura also expressed confidence in this year’s choices, emphasizing that “they really have to make a difference.”
After Gondomar, Chega’s caravan headed to the district capital for the leader to have lunch with the candidate for the presidency of Porto’s municipal council, Miguel Corte-Real, who until last year led the PSD parliamentary group in the municipal assembly.
Before the meeting, which was closed to the media, André Ventura told journalists that he expects “a pleasant surprise” from this candidacy on Sunday.
The Chega leader denied that Miguel Corte-Real has a more moderate style compared to the party’s usual, and said he has heard speeches “that are quite assertive and emphatic.”
“This is what Porto needs, not more moderate or more radical, it’s what Porto needs. He knows Porto, after all, having led the parliamentary group of another party in Porto,” he said.
André Ventura also considered that the “result that this candidate will achieve, and everything indicates it will be excellent, is a signal for the party and a signal for the area where the party is established, a signal for the future.”
“Miguel is not just a candidate for Porto now, Miguel has been making a path for Chega in Porto. The Chega of Porto will also be marked by this electoral campaign,” he emphasized.
He said that the “best result is to win,” arguing that “a party like Chega always fights to win.”
In statements to journalists, the candidate for the presidency of Porto’s municipal council indicated that the objective of his candidacy is “to change the lives of the people of Porto.”
“And to do that, we need to win,” he stated, noting that if his candidacy is not the most voted, he will “lead an opposition like never before in Porto.”
Miguel Corte-Real also took the opportunity to criticize “the poor public spending in Porto’s City Hall” and stated that his candidacy aims to end this practice to “put money to work for the people of Porto.”
