Chega's Position on State Budget Negotiations

André Ventura, the leader of Chega, has reinforced that the party will be "out" of the negotiations for the State Budget for 2025 (OE2025). Speaking to the press at the party's parliamentary sessions in Castelo Branco, Ventura confirmed their absence from the government meeting discussing the upcoming budget.

“Chega will not participate in the OE negotiations,” Ventura emphasized, although the party will attend the meeting to hear the government's economic data. He described Chega as a responsible party that wants to understand the government's stance.

Despite this, Ventura will not be present at the meeting, similar to the absence of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and Pedro Nuno Santos, the PS Secretary-General, during the first round of negotiations in July.

Ventura criticized Montenegro's absence, suggesting it shows “disdain for Parliament and political opponents.” He accused the government of wanting elections and claimed that the government is the one pushing for the budget not to pass.

“The government chose to negotiate with PS,” Ventura reiterated, highlighting Montenegro's willingness to discuss tax cuts with PS, while Chega has been sidelined.

Immigration Referendum Proposal Submitted to Parliament

Chega also introduced a resolution project proposing a referendum on immigration, which Ventura labeled as a "non-negotiable" condition for supporting the budget. The proposal seeks responses from voters on two key questions regarding immigration quotas and residency permit limits.

The party advocates for a global employment quota system based on the actual needs of the labor market and the contributions immigrants can make to the economy and social security. They criticized the current ease of obtaining residency and the government's “carelessness” regarding migrant integration.

Ventura previously indicated that he aimed to present this referendum proposal promptly at the start of September. However, Hugo Soares, the PSD parliamentary leader, dismissed it as “out of touch” with the government's political options.

The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, also questioned the need for a referendum, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between reality and political narratives on immigration.

Ventura subsequently requested an urgent meeting with the President to discuss the referendum's significance but was refused as constitutional provisions limit the President's involvement to the final stages of referendum processes.