Chega Party Withdraws from Budget Negotiations Amid Trust Issues with Government

Chega Stands Firm on Budget Negotiations

The Chega party has announced its decision to remain absent from negotiations regarding the upcoming State Budget. They will not attend any upcoming meetings with the government, claiming that the executive is provoking them.

In statements to journalists at the Assembly of the Republic, Chega's president, André Ventura, expressed distrust towards Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, stating that he is not "trustworthy" and that the meeting regarding the State Budget was scheduled on a day when the party holds its parliamentary sessions, which he views as a provocation.

Ventura criticized the government's actions, saying, "There are no limits to the provocation, no limits to the lack of democratic awareness, and no limits to the democratic aggression that the PSD wants to impose on Chega."

He clarified that Chega will not attend this meeting or any future meetings related to the budget but will present their proposals during the parliamentary debate, aiming to build majorities based on their suggestions.

Additionally, Ventura mentioned that Montenegro responded privately to his public statements about withdrawing from negotiations, but he did not disclose the details of that response.

He accused the government of having squandered the opportunity for a right-wing majority and criticized them for blaming Chega for the lack of stability in the country. "Chega did everything to ensure the country had a budget and a future without political crises. If that was not possible, it was due to the PSD government," he asserted.

The government has called for another round of discussions on the State Budget, scheduled for Tuesday at the Assembly of the Republic.

On August 30, Ventura announced that Chega would withdraw from 2025 State Budget negotiations and would likely vote against the document. He emphasized that this decision is "irrevocable" and urged the government to negotiate with the Socialist Party (PS), hoping for successful negotiations.

Despite the firm stance, Ventura indicated that Chega might approve proposals related to IRC and IRS if they are outside the budget context.