Chega (political party)

André Ventura was the Social Democratic Party (PSD) candidate for mayor of Loures in the Lisbon District in the 2017 Portuguese local elections. During his campaign, he made comments about Romani people in Portugal that led to a criminal complaint by Left Bloc candidate Fabian Figueiredo, and the withdrawal of the endorsement from the CDS – People's Party.{{cite news |title=PSD mantém apoio a André Ventura em Loures |url=https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/politica/2017/07/18/psd-mantem-apoio-a-andre-ventura-em-loures/89026/ |access-date=17 March 2024 |publisher=Rádio Renascença |date=18 July 2017 |language=Portuguese}} In October 2018, he left the PSD due to disputes with its leadership, set up a new party called Chega, and resigned his seat on Loures city council.{{cite news |title=Chega, o novo partido de André Ventura quer proibir o casamento homossexual |url=https://expresso.pt/revista-de-imprensa/2018-10-09-Chega-o-novo-partido-de-Andre-Ventura-quer-proibir-o-casamento-homossexual |access-date=17 March 2024 |work=Expresso |date=9 October 2018 |language=Portuguese}}{{cite news |title=André Ventura renuncia ao mandato de vereador em Loures |url=https://expresso.pt/politica/2018-10-26-Andre-Ventura-renuncia-ao-mandato-de-vereador-em-Loures |access-date=17 March 2024 |work=Expresso |date=26 October 2018 |language=Portuguese}}

Chega had been initially prevented from registering as a political party as some of the 8,000 signatures presented to the Constitutional Court included minors and police officers.{{cite news |last1=Martins |first1=Ruben |title=Chega entregou assinaturas irregulares e de menores no Tribunal Constitucional |url=https://www.publico.pt/2019/03/07/politica/noticia/chega-entregou-assinaturas-irregulares-tribunal-constitucional-1864507 |access-date=23 March 2024 |work=Público |date=7 March 2019 |language=Portuguese}} The court accepted the party's registration on 9 April 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribunalconstitucional.pt/tc/partidos.html|title=TC > Partidos Políticos > Partidos registados e suas denominações, siglas e símbolos.|website=www.tribunalconstitucional.pt}} Ventura made a coalition with the People's Monarchist Party, Citizenship and Christian Democracy and Democracy 21, for which he would be the lead candidate in the 2019 European Parliament election in Portugal. The coalition was approved by the Constitutional Court at the third request as it was rejected the first two times for having a name that included "Chega"; it was finally named Basta!, a synonym of Chega in Portuguese.{{cite news |title=André Ventura tem OK do Constitucional: coligação "Basta!" foi aprovada |url=https://www.jn.pt/nacional/interior/andre-ventura-tem-ok-do-constitucional-coligacao-basta-foi-aprovada-10789586.html/ |access-date=23 March 2024 |work=Jornal de Notícias |date=12 April 2019 |language=Portuguese}} Ventura garnered controversy for not attending an electoral debate and instead appearing on CMTV in his role as a sports pundit; coalition representative Sofia Afonso Ferreira said that this was due to a late change of the debate's timing by broadcaster Rádio e Televisão de Portugal.{{cite news |title=Europeias: André Ventura continua como cabeça de lista da coligação Basta |url=https://observador.pt/2019/05/15/europeias-europeias-andre-ventura-continua-como-cabeca-de-lista-da-coligacao-basta/ |access-date=23 March 2024 |work=Observador |date=15 May 2019 |language=Portuguese}} The coalition targeted one or two seats in the European Parliament but won none, taking 1.49% of the vote.{{cite news |title=Resultados ficaram aquém das expectativas do Basta |url=https://sicnoticias.pt/arquivo/eleicoes-europeias-2019/2019-05-27-Resultados-ficaram-aquem-das-expectativasdo-Basta |access-date=23 March 2024 |publisher=SIC Notícias |date=27 May 2019 |language=Portuguese}}

File:André Ventura discursa na noite eleitoral das Legislativas 2022 (Agência Lusa - 'Maioria absoluta, Governo PS desgastado').png on the night of the 2022 legislative election, after Chega became the third largest party]]

In the 2019 Portuguese legislative election, Chega won one seat in the Assembly of the Republic, taken by Ventura for the Lisbon constituency.{{Cite web|last=Del Barrio|first=Javier|date=2019-12-26|title=Partido de extrema direita português criado há seis meses ganha voz no Parlamento|url=https://brasil.elpais.com/brasil/2019/12/12/internacional/1576187485_020229.html|access-date=2021-02-22|website=El País|language=pt}} Throughout the 2010s, Portugal was widely seen internationally as an exception to the advance of right-wing populism in Europe.{{cite journal |last1=Quintas da Silva |first1=Rodrigo |title=A Portuguese exception to right-wing populism |journal=Palgrave Communications |date=23 January 2018 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=1–5 |doi=10.1057/s41599-017-0062-8 |issn=2055-1045|doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Heyne |first1=Lea |last2=Manucci |first2=Luca |title=A new Iberian exceptionalism? Comparing the populist radical right electorate in Portugal and Spain |journal=Political Research Exchange |date=1 January 2021 |volume=3 |issue=1 |doi=10.1080/2474736X.2021.1989985 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2474736X.2021.1989985 |access-date=23 March 2024 |issn=2474-736X|hdl=10451/50165 |hdl-access=free }}

Chega entered the Legislative Assembly of the Azores with two seats in the 2020 regional election. While the Socialist Party (PS) won the most seats, Chega gave support to a right-leaning government led by José Manuel Bolieiro of the PSD, in exchange for a review of the region's constitutional status.{{cite news |title=Chega anuncia acordo com PSD sobre Governo na Região Autónoma dos Açores |url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/chega-anuncia-acordo-com-psd-sobre-governo-na-regiao-autonoma-dos-acores_n1273210 |access-date=23 March 2024 |publisher=RTP |date=6 November 2020 |language=Portuguese}} Ricardo Cabral Fernandes of Jacobin reflected that "The Azores are a small region — but this was a big step in the normalization of Chega, and a trial run for a similar solution at a national scale".{{cite news |last1=Cabral Fernandes |first1=Ricardo |title=The Rise of Portugal's Far Right Is a Wake-Up Call |url=https://jacobin.com/2022/02/portugal-election-chega-far-right-andre-ventura |access-date=23 March 2024 |work=Jacobin |date=2 March 2022}}

Ventura ran for the mainly ceremonial role of President of Portugal in the 2021 election, coming third with 12% of the vote, marginally behind runner-up Ana Gomes of the PS. Ventura celebrated his result as the "first time an openly anti-system party has disrupted the traditional right".{{cite news |title=Portugal's centre-right president re-elected but far right gains ground |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/25/portugals-centre-right-president-re-elected-but-far-right-gains-ground |access-date=23 March 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=25 January 2021}}

In the 2022 general election, receiving 7.2% of the vote, it increased its seat count to 12, coming third behind the PS and PSD.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-30|title=Resultados Globais Território Nacional e Estrangeiro|url=https://www.legislativas2022.mai.gov.pt/resultados/globais|access-date=2022-01-31|website=legislativas2022.mai.gov.pt|language=pt}}

In the 2024 general election it received 18.07% of the vote, quadrupling its seat count to a final total of 50.{{Cite news |last=Bayer |first=Lili |date=2024-03-11 |title=Surge for far-right party in Portugal – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/mar/10/portugal-elections-tight-race-expected-with-far-right-hopeful-of-kingmaker-role-live-updates |access-date=2024-03-12 |work=the Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}

In the 2024 election, the party was the most voted in the Faro constituency, which corresponds to the Algarve. This was the first time that a third party was the most voted in a district since the Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) won the Beja District in 1991.{{cite news |last1=Santos Guerreiro |first1=Pedro |last2=Guimarães |first2=António |title=Chega vence no Algarve e mapa de Portugal volta a ter três cores… 33 anos depois |url=https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/chega/faro/mapa-de-portugal-volta-a-ter-tres-cores-33-anos-depois/20240310/65ee34afd34e87e0c08a946c |access-date=17 March 2024 |publisher=CNN Portugal |date=10 March 2024 |language=Portuguese}} The party was the most voted in ten municipalities, five of which were in the Algarve, though its highest percentage was 36.53% in Elvas in the Portalegre District.{{cite news |title=Cinco dos 10 concelhos onde o Chega tem melhor resultado são no Algarve |url=https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2024/03/cinco-dos-10-concelhos-onde-o-chega-tem-melhor-resultado-sao-no-algarve/ |access-date=17 March 2024 |publisher=Sul Infomação |date=11 March 2024 |language=Portuguese}} Portuguese political scientists credited Chega's advances to a protest vote against the two largest parties, and the result in the Algarve to the difficulty that locals face finding housing in the tourism-heavy region.{{cite news |title=Votação no Chega provocada pelo descontentamento dos eleitores, diz politólogo |url=https://observador.pt/2024/03/12/votacao-no-chega-provocada-pelo-descontentamento-dos-eleitores-diz-politologo/ |access-date=17 March 2024 |work=Observador |date=12 March 2024 |language=Portuguese}}{{cite news |title=Investigador associa resultado do Chega no Algarve a voto de protesto |url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/investigador-associa-resultado-do-chega-no-algarve-a-voto-de-protesto_a1557065 |access-date=17 March 2024 |publisher=RTP |date=12 March 2024 |language=Portuguese}}{{cite news |title="Algarve votou no Chega já nem sequer como voto de protesto, mas como voto útil" |url=https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2024-03-11-Algarve-votou-no-Chega-ja-nem-sequer-como-voto-de-protesto-mas-como-voto-util-77978995 |access-date=17 March 2024 |publisher=SIC Notícias |date=11 March 2024 |language=Portuguese}}

Luís Montenegro, leader of the PSD and the Democratic Alliance (AD) coalition that took the plurality of votes in the election, refused the prospect of forming a coalition with Chega. When invited to form a government by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, he continued with this position and chose to form a minority government.{{cite news |title=Luis Montenegro appointed Portugal's prime minister |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/03/21/luis-montenegro-appointed-portugal-s-prime-minister_6640286_4.html |access-date=23 March 2024 |work=Le Monde |date=21 March 2024}} Ventura said that Chega would vote against the state budget proposed by AD if his party were not included in the government.{{cite news |last1=Vicente Rua |first1=Patricia |last2=Demony |first2=Catarina |title=Portugal's centre-right prepares to rule, far-right warns of instability |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/portugals-centre-right-prepares-rule-far-right-warns-instability-2024-03-11/ |access-date=23 March 2024 |publisher=Reuters |date=11 March 2024}}

{{conservatism sidebar}}

Chega considers itself a party with nationalist,{{cite news|work=SBS|title=Maioria no parlamento português reprova protesto de partido ultranacionalista durante discurso de Lula|date=26 April 2023|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/portuguese/pt/podcast-episode/maioria-no-parlamento-portugues-reprova-protesto-de-partido-ultranacionalista-durante-discurso-de-lula/fjdn85idp|quote=the ultranationalist Chega party}} conservative and personalist roots.{{cite web|title=Manifesto|url=https://partidochega.pt/manifesto/|work=Partido Político CHEGA|date=7 February 2019|access-date=2019-05-22|language=pt-PT}} It defends the promotion of an effective judicial system and the decrease of the State's intervention in the economy. The party also presents itself as national conservative{{cite news|work=Euronews|title=Socialist Antonio Costa wins Portugal election, will continue 'contraption' coalition|date=7 October 2019|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/10/06/portugal-votes-in-parliamentary-elections-latest-updates}} and social conservative.{{cite web|last1=Rainho|first1=Vítor|last2=Martinho|first2=Beatriz|url=https://sol.sapo.pt/especiais/andre-ventura-sou-contra-o-aborto-mas-nunca-condenaria-uma-mulher-que-aborta/|title=André Ventura: 'Sou contra o aborto mas nunca condenaria uma mulher que aborta'|access-date=2019-05-22|publisher=Jornal SOL}}

The agenda of Chega is heavily focused on criminality issues, support for the police forces of the country, and to control the misuse of taxpayers' money in terms of corruption at the top, overstaffing in the civil service at the middle and undeserving welfare recipients at the bottom.{{cite web|title=The rise of Chega and the end of Portuguese exceptionalism|website= London School of Economics |date=21 January 2021|url= https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2021/01/21/the-rise-of-chega-and-the-end-of-portuguese-exceptionalism/}}{{cite news|title=Chega "eclipsa" destruição da escola pública e do SNS do seu programa|newspaper= Diário de Notícias |date=27 August 2021|url=https://www.dn.pt/politica/chega-eclipsa-destruicao-da-escola-publica-e-do-sns-do-seu-programa-14065470.html|language=pt}}{{Cite web |last=O'Reilly |first=Thomas |date=2023-12-13 |title=Portugal Election: Chega Challenges Establishment Parties |url=https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/portugal-election-chega-challenges-establishment-parties/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=europeanconservative.com}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-21 |title=How far-right extremism seeped into Portugal's mainstream politics |url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/08/21/they-say-theyre-not-racist-how-far-right-extremism-seeped-into-portugals-mainstream-politi |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=euronews}}

Chega supports life imprisonment sentences and chemical castration for reoffending rapists.{{Cite web|title=Chega party proposes chemical castration for repeat rape offenders|url=https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2021-03-24/chega-party-proposes-chemical-castration-for-repeat-rape-offenders/58936|access-date=2021-09-22|website=theportugalnews.com}} Some party members also support the death penalty for crimes such as terrorism or child abuse; in a 2020 party referendum, 44% voted in favor.{{Cite web | url=https://tekdeeps.com/chega-militants-fail-death-penalty-and-re-elect-andre-ventura/ | title=Chega militants fail death penalty and re-elect André Ventura | date=6 September 2020 | access-date=18 April 2021 | archive-date=8 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108225222/https://tekdeeps.com/chega-militants-fail-death-penalty-and-re-elect-andre-ventura/ | url-status=usurped }}[https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/en/news/eleicoes-diretas-do-chega-chamam-11-313-militantes-a-referendar-andre-ventura-e-a-pena-de-morte-633261] {{Dead link|date=August 2022}}

Describing itself a "strong proponent of Western civilization", the party positions itself against "Islamist extremism" and proposes stronger border controls and a decrease of "mass and illegal immigration". It has been also described as antiziganist.{{Cite news|work=Observador|title=Pastoral dos Ciganos considera racistas e ilegais declarações de André Ventura|date=8 September 2020|url=https://observador.pt/2020/09/08/pastoral-dos-ciganos-considera-racistas-e-ilegais-declaracoes-de-andre-ventura/}}{{Cite news|work=Observador|title=Figuras públicas e associações repudiam afirmações de André Ventura sobre ciganos|date=6 May 2020|url=https://observador.pt/2020/05/06/figuras-publicas-e-associacoes-repudiam-afirmacoes-de-andre-ventura-sobre-ciganos/}}{{Cite news|work=Radio Renascença|title=Confinar ciganos? Quaresma responde a André Ventura: "A vida é demasiado preciosa para ouvirmos vozes de burros"|date=6 May 2020|url=https://rr.sapo.pt/2020/05/06/politica/confinar-ciganos-quaresma-responde-a-andre-ventura-a-vida-e-demasiado-preciosa-para-ouvirmos-vozes-de-burros/noticia/191854/}} The party supports integration measures for immigrants and states that all immigrants and foreign residents should be "obliged to respect our rules, rites, customs and traditions." It also supports bilateral agreements and limited immigration from former Portuguese colonies such as Brazil, Portuguese-speaking African countries, Macau and East Timor while taking a more critical stance on non-Western immigration. It also calls for a zero tolerance policy on illegal immigration and for the deportation of immigrants with criminal records or those who are economically inactive.{{cite web |url=https://partidochega.pt/manifesto-para-a-europa/ |title=MANIFESTO FOR EUROPE |date=15 August 2019 |access-date=2022-01-29}} It is also opposed to multiculturalism. The party claim that it rejects xenophobia on its platform.{{cite web |url=https://partidochega.pt/manifesto-para-a-europa/ |title=Founding Political Manifesto |date=15 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204194334/https://partidochega.pt/manifesto-para-a-europa/ |access-date=2022-01-29|archive-date=4 February 2020 }} The party opposes illegal immigration and "open door immigration" policies for both Portugal{{Cite web |date=2024-02-29 |title=Na contramão da Europa, Portugal tem política aberta de imigração, mas pode mudar após eleições |url=https://www.rfi.fr/br/europa/20240229-na-contram%C3%A3o-da-europa-portugal-tem-pol%C3%ADtica-aberta-de-imigra%C3%A7%C3%A3o-mas-pode-mudar-ap%C3%B3s-elei%C3%A7%C3%B5es |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=RFI |language=pt-BR}} and the external border of the European Union.{{Cite web |title=Chega contra política migratória de "portas abertas", restantes partidos criticam xenofobia |url=https://observador.pt/2023/12/21/chega-contra-politica-migratoria-de-portas-abertas-restantes-partidos-criticam-xenofobia/ |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT}}{{Cite web |title=Chega e parceiros europeus unidos por UE com fronteiras internas e anti-imigração |url=https://observador.pt/2020/09/18/chega-e-parceiros-europeus-unidos-por-ue-com-fronteiras-internas-e-anti-imigracao/ |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT}}

The party advocates for a decrease of the tax incidence, considering the current system to be "brutal and aggressive to the ones who work and build wealth, taking away half of their incomes". It additionally defends a reduction of both bureaucracy and the number of bureaucrats, asserting that it is one of the main reasons for the "Portuguese competitive economic backwardness".

==== Europe ====

Chega's stance on the European Union has been described as Eurosceptic.{{Cite web|work=European Council on Foreign Relations|title=The instinctive multilateralist: Portugal and the politics of cooperation|date=2 October 2019|url=https://www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/instinctive_multilateralist_portugal_politics_cooperation}} The party states that it supports the original "four freedoms" principle of free movement of goods, capital, services and people among member states, but argues for a "Europe of sovereign nations united by shared Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian principles" and opposes interference into national political decision making within member states by the EU. It also calls on Portugal to pursue more independent foreign and economic policies from Brussels and rejects compulsory EU migrant and refugee quotas. Furthermore, the party also argues that Portugal should exit the EU if it tries to become a federal state.

On the Russo-Ukrainian War, António Tânger Corrêa, the party's vice president and leading candidate for the 2024 European Parliament election, has been critical of Ukraine,{{cite news|work=Expresso|date=28 March 2024|title=Europeias: as posições pró-russas do cabeça de lista do Chega são um embaraço para Ventura? "Pode ser uma fonte de desconforto"|url=https://expresso.pt/politica/eleicoes/europeias-2024/2024-03-28-Europeias-as-posicoes-pro-russas-do-cabeca-de-lista-do-Chega-sao-um-embaraco-para-Ventura--Pode-ser-uma-fonte-de-desconforto-34515172}} advocating a peace deal that would involve "reinforced cooperation" between Ukraine and Russia in a way that the "Russians feel comfortable".{{cite news|work=CNN Portugal|url=https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/tanger-correia/ucrania/europeias-candidato-do-chega-defende-uma-especie-de-cooperacao-reforcada-entre-ucrania-e-russia-em-que-os-russos-se-sintam-confortaveis/20240514/6643de4bd34ebf9bbb3d8918|title=Europeias: Candidato do Chega defende "uma espécie de cooperação reforçada" entre Ucrânia e Rússia "em que os russos se sintam confortáveis"|date=14 May 2024}} On the other hand, Ventura has said that the defeat of Ukraine will be the defeat of the entire West, and Portugal, as a member of NATO and the European Union, would send troops "in case of extreme need".{{Cite web |date=11 March 2024 |title=Ventura admite tropas portuguesas na Ucrânia e tem uma posição clara sobre Putin |url=https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/videos/ventura-admite-tropas-portuguesas-na-ucrania-e-tem-uma-posicao-clara-sobre-putin/ |website=CNN Portugal}}

==== Brazil ====

Chega supported the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, but party leader Ventura said that the former President of Brazil deserves condemnation if proven to have instigated the 2023 Brazilian Congress attack; Ventura also said that sections of the Brazilian population were right to be frustrated by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's victory over Bolsonaro before the attack.{{cite news |last1=Ralha |first1=Leonardo |title=André Ventura: "Se Bolsonaro fez algo para derrubar o jogo democrático, para mim merece condenação absoluta" |url=https://www.dn.pt/4436105376/andre-ventura-se-bolsonaro-fez-algo-para-derrubar-o-jogo-democratico-para-mim-merece-condenacao-absoluta/ |access-date=23 March 2024 |work=Diário de Notícias |date=21 February 2024 |language=Portuguese}}

Chega took a strongly pro-Israel stance on the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, criticising other Portuguese political parties for their stances on the conflict.{{Cite web|url=https://www.portugalresident.com/chega-threatens-to-abstain-over-parliamentary-text-on-israel-hamas-conflict/|title=CHEGA threatens to abstain over parliamentary text on Israel/ Hamas conflict - Portugal Resident|date=19 October 2023 }}{{Cite web |title=Chega vai propor voto de saudação de Israel e condenação do Hamas |url=https://observador.pt/2023/10/16/chega-vai-propor-voto-de-saudacao-de-israel-e-condenacao-do-hamas/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT}}

The 2020 Chega leadership election was held on 6 September 2020. André Ventura was re-elected with more than 99% of the vote, facing no opposition.{{Cite web |title=André Ventura reeleito presidente do Chega com 99,1% dos votos |url=https://tvi24.iol.pt/politica/eleicoes/andre-ventura-reeleito-presidente-do-chega-com-99-1-dos-votos |access-date=2020-09-06 |website=TVI24 |language=pt}}{{Cite web |last=Ralha |first=Leonardo |date=2020-09-05 |title=Eleições diretas do Chega chamam 11.313 militantes a "referendar" André Ventura e a pena de morte |url=https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/noticias/eleicoes-diretas-do-chega-chamam-11-313-militantes-a-referendar-andre-ventura-e-a-pena-de-morte-633261 |access-date=2020-09-06 |website=O Jornal Económico |language=pt-PT}} The party's statutes have been rejected by the Constitutional Court several times for concentrating excessive power in the hands of Ventura.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-27 |title=Portugal's third political force among prominent 'hate' organisations |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/portugals-third-political-force-among-prominent-hate-organisations/ |access-date= |website=Euractiv}}

In 2020, it was reported that there was a "guerrilla atmosphere" within the party, the result of tensions between the different factions that make up the party.{{cite web |date=9 December 2020 |title=Ameaças, jogos de poder e ligações perigosas do Chega |url=https://visao.sapo.pt/atualidade/politica/2020-12-09-investigacao-ameacas-jogos-de-poder-e-ligacoes-perigosas-do-chega/ |website=Visão |language=pt-PT}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=16th Legislature (2024 – present)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

• André Ventura (Lisbon)
• Rui Paulo Sousa (Lisbon)
• Marta Martins da Silva (Lisbon)
• Pedro Pessanha (Lisbon)
• Ricardo Dias Pinto (Lisbon)
• Felicidade Vital (Lisbon)
• Bruno Nunes (Lisbon)
• Madalena Cordeiro (Lisbon)
• João Barreira Soares (Lisbon)
• Rui Afonso (Porto)
• Diogo Pacheco de Amorim (Porto)
• Cristina Rodrigues (Porto)
• José António Carvalho (Porto)
• Marcus Santos (Porto)
• Sónia Monteiro (Porto)
• Raul Melo (Porto)
• Filipe Melo (Braga)
• Rodrigo Alves Taxa (Braga)
• Vanessa Barata (Braga)
• Carlos Alberto Pinto (Braga)
• Rita Matias (Setúbal)
• Patrícia de Carvalho (Setúbal)
• Nuno Costa Gabriel (Setúbal)
• Daniel Teixeira (Setúbal)
• Jorge Valsassina Galveias (Aveiro)
• Maria José Aguiar (Aveiro)
• Armando Grave (Aveiro)
• Gabriel Mithá Ribeiro (Leiria)
• Luís Paulo Fernandes (Leiria)
• António Pinto Pereira (Coimbra)
• Eliseu Neves (Coimbra)
• Pedro Pinto (Faro)
• João Graça (Faro)
• Sandra Ribeiro (Faro)
• Pedro Frazão (Santarém)
• Pedro Correia (Santarém)
• Luísa Costa Macedo (Santarém)
• João Tilly (Viseu)
• Bernardo Pessanha (Viseu)
• Francisco Gomes (Madeira)
• Miguel Arruda (Azores) – became independent in January 2025
• Eduardo Teixeira (Viana do Castelo)
• Manuela Tender (Vila Real)
• João Ribeiro (Castelo Branco)
• Diva Ribeiro (Beja District)
• Rui Cristina (Évora)
• Nuno Simões de Melo (Guarda)
• Henrique de Freitas (Portalegre)
• José Dias Fernandes (Europe)
• Manuel Magno (Outside Europe)

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• André Ventura (Lisbon)
  Sofia Diniz – from November 2023 to November 2023
• Rui Paulo Sousa (Lisbon)
  Luís Pereira – from November 2023 to November 2023
• Rita Matias (Lisbon)
• Pedro Pessanha (Lisbon)
• Rui Afonso (Porto)
• Diogo Pacheco de Amorim (Porto)
• Filipe Melo (Braga)
  Rodrigo Alves Taxa – from November 2023 to November 2023
• Rita Matias (Setúbal)
• Jorge Valsassina Galveias (Aveiro)
• Gabriel Mithá Ribeiro (Leiria)
• Pedro Pinto (Faro)
• Pedro Frazão (Santarém)

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• André Ventura (Lisbon)
  Diogo Pacheco de Amorim – from September 2021 to October 2021

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• António Tânger Corrêa
• Tiago Moreira de Sá

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Chega maintains close links with Vox, a similar party in neighbouring Spain.{{cite news |title=Chega quer "estratégia europeia comum" com Vox e prepara cimeira com Abascal |url=https://www.publico.pt/2021/08/23/politica/noticia/chega-quer-estrategia-europeia-comum-vox-prepara-cimeira-abascal-1974955 |access-date=23 March 2024 |work=Público |date=23 August 2021 |language=Portuguese}}{{cite news |last1=André Figueiredo |first1=Inês |title=Dirigentes do Chega tiveram formação com dirigentes do Vox. Partidos têm projeto comum para chegar ao poder na Península Ibérica |url=https://observador.pt/especiais/dirigentes-do-chega-tiveram-formacao-com-dirigentes-do-vox-partidos-tem-projeto-comum-para-chegar-ao-poder-na-peninsula-iberica/ |access-date=23 March 2024 |work=Observador |date=17 September 2022 |language=Portuguese}} In July 2020, Chega joined the European Identity and Democracy Party, where its allies included the National Rally (France), Lega (Italy) and the Alternative for Germany.{{cite news |title=Chega adere ao grupo europeu de extrema-direita Identidade e Democracia |url=https://www.publico.pt/2020/07/02/politica/noticia/chega-adere-grupo-europeu-extremadireita-identidade-democracia-1922804 |access-date=23 March 2024 |work=Público |date=2 July 2020 |language=Portuguese}}{{cite news |title=Partidos de extrema-direita europeus reúnem-se em Lisboa: Ventura e Rita Matias representam Chega, Le Pen chega na sexta-feira |url=https://expresso.pt/politica/partidos/2023-11-23-Partidos-de-extrema-direita-europeus-reunem-se-em-Lisboa-Ventura-e-Rita-Matias-representam-Chega-Le-Pen-chega-na-sexta-feira-9b496aa6 |access-date=23 March 2024 |work=Expresso |date=23 November 2023 |language=Portuguese}} The party has the mutual support of Jair Bolsonaro, the former President of Brazil.

Vote share in the Portuguese legislative elections

ImageSize = width:250 height:200

PlotArea = width:188 height:170 left:40 bottom:20

AlignBars = justify

Colors =

id:CH value:rgb(0.02,0,0.57) legend:Chega

DateFormat = x.y

Period = from:0 till:20

TimeAxis = orientation:vertical

ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:0

PlotData =

bar:Seats color:claret width:27 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:S

bar:2019 color:CH from:start till:1.3 text:1.3

bar:2022 color:CH from:start till:7.2 text:7.2

bar:2024 color:CH from:start till:18.1 text:18.1

bar:2025 color:CH from:start till:0.0 text:0.0

Due to its anti-immigration, anti-Islam and populist stances,{{cite journal |last1=Mendes |first1=Mariana S. |last2=Dennison |first2=James |date=19 June 2020 |title=Explaining the emergence of the radical right in Spain and Portugal: salience, stigma and supply |journal=West European Politics |volume=44 |issue=4 |pages=752–775 |doi=10.1080/01402382.2020.1777504 |s2cid=225650718}} Chega has been the target of its critics who underline the party's extreme views on various subjects, some of which include the negative comments regarding immigration and minorities, namely the Romani,{{Cite web |last=Ribeiro |first=Gabriel |date=2020-12-20 |title=Ciganos, negros, islâmicos e Chega: a "mão invisível" do liberalismo social |url=https://observador.pt/opiniao/ciganos-negros-islamicos-e-chega-a-mao-invisivel-do-liberalismo-social/ |access-date=2021-02-22 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT}} its opposition to certain aspects of the constitution,{{Cite web |last=Vitorino |first=Sérgio |date=2020-10-20 |title=André Ventura quer mudar Constituição para atacar enriquecimento ilícito |url=https://www.cmjornal.pt/politica/detalhe/andre-ventura-quer-mudar-constituicao-para-atacar-enriquecimento-ilicito |access-date=2021-02-22 |website=Correio da Manhã |language=pt-PT}}{{Cite web |last=Ralha |first=Leonardo |date=2020-10-14 |title=Projeto de revisão constitucional do Chega quer impor trabalho comunitário a incendiários |url=https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/noticias/projeto-de-revisao-constitucional-do-chega-quer-impor-trabalho-voluntario-a-incendiarios-650382 |access-date=2020-10-14 |website=Jornal Económico |language=pt-PT}} its criticism of the judicial leniency regarding serious crimes,{{Cite web |date=2020-05-26 |title=Chega diz que Estado tem de cortar despesa "supérflua" |url=https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/politica/chega-diz-que-estado-tem-de-cortar-despesa-superflua--12242242.html |access-date=2021-02-22 |website=TSF |language=pt-PT}}{{Cite web |last=Monteiro |first=Ana |date=2020-01-17 |title=André Ventura: o candidato anti-sistema gerado pelo próprio sistema |url=https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/eleicoes-presidenciais/2021-01-17-Andre-Ventura-o-candidato-anti-sistema-gerado-pelo-proprio-sistema |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228150740/https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/eleicoes-presidenciais/2021-01-17-Andre-Ventura-o-candidato-anti-sistema-gerado-pelo-proprio-sistema |archive-date=28 February 2021 |access-date=2021-02-22 |website=Sic Notícias |language=pt-PT}} and governmental over-expenditure with public services.{{Cite web |last=Marchi |first=Riccardo |date=2019-12-21 |title=Um olhar exploratório sobre o partido Chega |url=https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/politica/chega-diz-que-estado-tem-de-cortar-despesa-superflua--12242242.html |access-date=2021-02-22 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT}}

The party has also been targeted by critics for reusing a slightly modified version of the motto of the Portuguese dictator António de Oliveira Salazar "Deus, Pátria, Família" (God, Fatherland, Family).{{Cite web |title=Ventura adapta lema de Salazar: "Deus, pátria, família e trabalho" |url=https://www.dn.pt/politica/ventura-adapta-lema-de-salazar-deus-patria-familia-e-trabalho--14361948.html |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=www.dn.pt |date=28 November 2021 |language=pt-PT}}{{Cite web |title="Deus, Pátria e Família": a frase do Estado Novo repetida no congresso do Chega |url=https://www.jn.pt/nacional/deus-patria-e-familia-a-frase-do-estado-novo-repetida-no-congresso-do-chega-14361074.html |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=www.jn.pt |language=pt-PT}} The party has been criticized for having supporters of Salazar within their ranks.{{Cite web |title=Vários deputados do Chega fazem referências a Salazar e ao Estado Novo |url=https://expresso.pt/politica/2022-02-17-varios-deputados-do-chega-fazem-referencias-a-salazar-e-ao-estado-novo |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=Jornal Expresso |language=pt-PT}}{{Cite web |title=Ventura mantém "total confiança pessoal e política" em deputados que elogiaram Salazar |url=https://www.sabado.pt/portugal/detalhe/ventura-mantem-total-confianca-pessoal-e-politica-em-deputados-que-elogiaram-salazar |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=www.sabado.pt |language=pt-pt}}

The Global Project against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE), an American NGO specialising in the study of extremist movements, warned in a 2023 report that Chega is an "anti-immigrant, anti-women, anti-LGBT, anti-Roma, anti-Muslim and conspiratorial party". The organisation also highlights the presence of numerous white supremacists, identitarians and neo-Nazis in the party's ranks.{{Cite web |title=GPAHE report: Far-Right Hate and Extremist Groups in Portugal |url=https://globalextremism.org/portugal/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Global Project Against Hate and Extremism}} A subsequent investigatory article by GPAHE found evidence of "more extreme" members in the Chega Youth group, including "white supremacists, fans of former dictator Antonio Salazar, and fascist sympathizers" including the President of the Coimbra branch João Antunes, the leader of the Porto branch Francisco Araujo, and Vila Nova de Famalicão leader Joana Pinto Azevedo.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-07 |title=Portugal's Far-Right Party Chega's Youth Wing is Even More Extreme than Chega Itself |url=https://globalextremism.org/post/chega-youth/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Global Project Against Hate and Extremism}}

In response to criticism of the mainstream media, party president André Ventura denounced the accusations of racism against his party, claiming that Chega defends equal rights and duties, and that it "doesn't desire a country on which minorities can believe they have more rights than others simply for being minorities".{{Cite web |last=Carlos |first=João |date=2020-07-02 |title="Portugal não é um país racista, mas existe racismo em Portugal" |url=https://www.dw.com/pt-002/portugal-n%C3%A3o-%C3%A9-um-pa%C3%ADs-racista-mas-existe-racismo-em-portugal/a-54027614 |access-date=2021-02-22 |website=DW |language=pt-PT}} On 27 June 2020, the party organized a protest entitled "Portugal is not racist", where Ventura further mentioned that there is no structural racism in Portugal, and that the political left uses racism as a pretext to foment political agendas.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-02 |title=Chega manifestou-se em Lisboa para dizer que "Portugal não é racista" |url=https://observador.pt/2020/08/02/chega-manifestou-se-em-lisboa-para-dizer-que-portugal-nao-e-racista/ |access-date=2021-02-22 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT}}

• Assembly of the Republic
• List of political parties in Portugal
• Politics of Portugal

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