“We need governments and Presidents of the Republic who are not afraid to assert the Portuguese nation and values and who are not ashamed. I think, in recent years, we have had leaders who are ashamed to assert the Portuguese nation,” stated the presidential candidate and leader of Chega, André Ventura.
Speaking to journalists before attending a meeting with young people in Oeiras, Ventura also argued that being democratic is not contradictory to being patriotic.
“Being a democrat in Portugal today means being patriotic, loving the Portuguese flag, and loving Portugal. And we should be able to say that without always bowing down,” said the presidential candidate, emphasizing that this is the “difference of this political project” compared to the PSD and PS.
Ventura reiterated his criticism of the Presidents of Angola and Brazil but noted that the Portuguese State “will have to maintain relations with these states.”
“But we must also stop bowing down, stop lowering our heads when tyrants, thieves, and murderers call us slavers and oppressors,” Ventura added.
Recalling that today marks the Restoration of Independence Day, Ventura emphasized that “in the face of what was then the world’s strongest nation,” Spain, Portugal “stood its ground and defended its independence.”
“Today, it’s not the Philips, but the Lulas da Silva, the Maduros, the Fidel Castros, the presidents of Angola, and we have to deal with that,” he stated.
The presidential elections are scheduled for January 18, 2026.
This marks the 12th time (including the two rounds of the 1986 elections) since 1976 that Portuguese citizens are called to democratically elect the President of the Republic.
Besides André Ventura (supported by Chega), other announced presidential candidates include António Filipe (supported by the PCP), António José Seguro (backed by the PS), Catarina Martins (supported by the BE), João Cotrim Figueiredo (backed by the Iniciativa Liberal), Jorge Pinto (supported by Livre), Luís Marques Mendes (backed by the PSD), and Gouveia e Melo.
According to the candidacy portal of the Ministry of Internal Administration, there are 31 more citizens collecting signatures for a presidential bid.
