The seventh day of the Chega party’s campaign for the legislative elections began with a visit to the Municipal Market of Vila Real, followed by a brief public walk in the city late in the morning.
Similar to events in recent days, the Chega entourage encountered a protest by a member of the Roma community who positioned himself among the party’s supporters, shouting through a megaphone even before André Ventura’s arrival.
Unlike past instances in Aveiro, Braga, and Viana do Castelo, the leader of Chega did not directly respond to the protester. Speaking to journalists as he arrived at the market, Ventura stated he has received “an unfathomable number of threats.”
“What we have been receiving in the last few days at Chega is unspeakable. People saying they will kill me, do everything to eliminate me physically, end us, and pursue us. And the country is worried that the Roma community is offended because I said they have to work and follow rules,” he stated, referring to a news report by Expresso that mentions Roma associations have sued him for “hate speech.”
The Chega leader argued that these associations should “appeal to all Roma people to stop this degrading spectacle.”
André Ventura confirmed he would not change the campaign nor has he enhanced his personal security, emphasizing that he “is not afraid” and refuses to “let any group, minority, ethnic or otherwise, prevent [him] from conducting political campaigns.”
The Chega president also mentioned he does not intend to file a complaint over these threats, as he does not want to “clog up the justice system” or “use the courts as the new form of political action.”
When asked if he had increased his private security detail, Ventura said, “it is exactly as it was.”
“I will not change a millimeter of my life because of the Roma community,” he emphasized.
Having urged the Minister of Internal Administration to be vigilant and ensure equal treatment for everyone, Ventura stated today that “Chega never asks for special attention for itself,” but warned that if such situations persist, the Government “is risking creating an explosive political situation.”
Ventura added that all campaign activities are coordinated with the authorities and that he was not notified of any security reinforcement.
The procession was monitored by uniformed and plainclothes PSP officers.
The protester, Serafim dos Anjos, complained of discrimination, asserting that the Roma “want to work” but “lack opportunities,” and pleaded: “stop being racist.”
To journalists, the man mentioned he learned about the event via social media and that previous days’ protests did not influence his decision to be there.
On the opposing side, Chega supporters shouted, “go to work” and “stop living on subsidies.”
Local construction entrepreneur Telmo Resende confronted the protester, offering jobs “for four or five” people and invited them to come on Monday.
“I just hope they fulfill it,” Serafim responded.
Serafim dos Anjos, founder of the National and Social Association of Roma Ethnicity, was convicted for drug trafficking in 2022, receiving a suspended sentence.
André Ventura was also asked about the criticism from the PSD leader the day before, who accused Chega’s deputies and leaders of spreading misinformation, considering it “curious” coming from a “prime minister who has done nothing but mislead the Portuguese about the work he has done.”
“This is the same prime minister who called the media with his wife for a political event,” he remarked, declining to comment on Luís Montenegro’s act of greeting his wife during a pilgrimage to Fátima, accompanied by the media.
The Chega leader stated he is “focused on speaking to the country, not engaging in ‘sideshows’ with the prime minister.”
