Montenegro Takes Legal Action Against Chega: The Controversy Unfolds

Prime Minister's Legal Move Against Chega

On Monday, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro confirmed that he has filed a cautionary injunction against the political party Chega. This action aims to remove campaign posters depicting him alongside former Socialist Prime Minister José Sócrates, linking them to corruption issues.

Montenegro stated, “The injunction was filed on the 14th. Without news, we leave it to the court for discussion and decision.” This statement was shared via social media, where he expressed concern that Chega sought to influence judicial proceedings immediately after being notified of the injunction.

He emphasized, “Chega and its leader have no limits. Freedom of expression should not be confused with offensive and baseless slander.”

Tweet from Luís Montenegro:
“The injunction was filed on the 14th. Without news, we leave it to the court for discussion and decision. Today it became public because Chega was notified and immediately wanted to condition justice. Chega and its leader have no limits.” — Luís Montenegro (@LMontenegropm) March 24, 2025

In a press conference later that day, Montenegro confirmed that he has requested the Lisbon Judicial Court to order the removal of all posters associating him and Sócrates with corruption within five days. However, he did not confirm whether the court accepted or rejected this legal action.

André Ventura, the leader of Chega, responded to the media by denying any notification regarding the Prime Minister's legal action, further accusing Montenegro of struggling with democracy and freedom.

The cautionary injunction was filed on the 14th, but the judge declined to rule on the matter without a counterargument, as Montenegro had requested. According to the Lisbon court, reported by Lusa agency, the court refused the request for a decision without a counterargument, notifying Chega through Ventura on the 20th and providing a timeframe for their response.