President Chegi insisted on Tuesday that he would only make the PSD government viable after legislative elections with a governance agreement in place, and did not specify whether he would require the executive to join that, saying it was a “side issue.”
“A government agreement is needed” for Chega to make a right-wing minority government viable, Andre Ventura told reporters ahead of the unrest in Costa da Caparica (Almada, Setubal district).
When asked whether one of the conditions for this understanding is the inclusion of Chegi in this executive branch, the leader considered that “this issue is of secondary importance,” but stated that “in principle, the government agreement will also include rulers from Chegi.”
“We are never driven by places, we are driven by ideas, values and policies,” he stressed, saying that “others only think about places, ministries and pots.”
Andre Ventura reiterated that “if the right is the majority, Chega will be able to build this alternative” and stated that “if others say no, they will take on this responsibility.”
The Chegi leader once again rejected the parliamentary agreement, but acknowledged the possibility of agreeing measure by measure in the legislature.
“This is always possible, Chega has already shown in the Azores that it is a responsible party,” he said, but stressed that the issue would be considered depending on the results of the March 10 legislative elections.
Regarding the debate with PSD leader Luis Montenegro on Monday, President Chega considered that it was an “important debate” and “the most difficult among the right” and noted that “Chega managed to show his difference.” in the face of AD” (coalition SDP/CDS-PP/PPM).
Andre Ventura accused the Democratic Alliance of lacking proposals to combat corruption, and the PSD leader of being “totally bound and limited” in this matter.
“It was a tense debate because we have a weak SDP. This PSD is the freest it has been in years, it is weak on immigration, weak on corruption and weak on governance,” he criticized.
When asked why he is still looking for mutual understanding with the Social Democrats, Andre Ventura replied: “He doesn’t want to, but the Portuguese, apparently, if they give a majority, they will give it only to these two parties. We would prefer to govern alone, but the country is what it is.”
“So they will be soft and we will be tough on corruption,” he added.
Regarding Montenegro’s estimate that the main measures of Cega’s electoral program would cost more than 25 billion euros, Ventura said that this was “completely false, it is in the head” of the PSD leader, and countered that they were “below 10 billion million”, even although “from 7 to 9 billion” is an estimate of only the increase in pensions.
Asked about Tuesday’s debate with Mariana Mortagua, a “strong opponent,” Andre Ventura said she expected an enlightening face-to-face meeting and noted that both speak “on behalf of very different constituencies.”
On Tuesday, Chega held a street rally in Costa da Caparica that spanned some streets in the area for about an hour and ended near the beach.
The 100 or so supporters who made up the group led by Andre Ventura and the head of the Chegi list in Setubal, Rita Matias, wore Chegi scarves and waved Portuguese flags as well as white flags bearing the party symbol.
On the day of the Carnival, the delegation was given masks with Andre Ventura’s face, which were used to record a video for social networks.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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