Chegi leader André Ventura assured this Sunday that the party is “the path to victory over socialism” and that it is the alternative that Portugal needs to avoid the “lies and corruption” of the last years of government. At closing At the 6th National Party Convention, Ventura began his 50-minute speech by thanking everyone present and ended by criticizing the government.
Chega has “contested DNA” and is open “to those who seek it.”
Andre Ventura emphasized Chega’s destructive power, but assured that the party was never “closed” and that it opens doors to those who seek it. To reinforce this idea, President Chegi recalled the number of SDP and SDS-PP deputies integrated into the party, since Enrique de Freitas, Nuno Simões de Melo and António Pinto Pereira.
“I will not let this spirit die. Precisely because we are this open party and because we are the hope that Portugal needs (…) Chega has never been a closed party,” he said.
“Many will join because they know this is the way to defeat socialism in Portugal. We never sell our identity because it is part of our heritage, but we also know that we need many,” he said.
Despite the integration factor, this ensures that Chegi’s “DNA of opposition” never disappears and therefore the party will never remain silent in the face of injustice.
Review by Pedro Nuno Santos
In response to statements by Pedro Nuno Santos, Andre Ventura said that the new PS general secretary was being rejected due to workers’ dissatisfaction and his own actions. Let us recall that this Sunday Pedro Nuno Santos said that Chega lied to the Portuguese and that the promised measures could not be implemented.
“He said that there have been many successes in the security forces, but the protests deny this (…)” Dear Pedro Nuno Santos, lies and manipulation have no place in this congress, but they fit like a glove to you and to the PS that you governed Portugal in recent years,” he criticized.
Andre Ventura also recalled the controversial TAP compensation of 500 thousand euros awarded to Alexandra Reis, which led to the dismissal of Pedro Nuno Santos as Minister of Infrastructure early last year.
“What authority does a person have who managed via WhatsApp and who negotiated with BE and PCP to buy shares in CTT and who one day woke up deciding on the location of the airport, but António Costa refused him?” he noted.
Says PS – this is “lies and corruption”
President Chegi used the speech to sharply criticize the Socialist Party leadership, saying it was “marked by deeds and deeds” and lies “that fit the PS like a glove.”
Ventura believes that PS fell due to corruption. “The fall of PS is the fall of a virus that is spreading in Portuguese society more than Covid-19,” he said. “Socrates left and years later came António Costa, now Pedro Nuno Santos. And they call us fascists and radicals, no moderation prevails in my heart except to say that I am absolutely radical against corruption,” he emphasized.
They promise to return teachers’ seniority
Andre Ventura promised that in four years he will bring back the frozen seniority of teachers, given that the party must be “that voice”, because the PS and PSD are no longer that.
“The commitment is clear and worth its weight in gold, unlike Pedro Nuno Santos – in four years Chega will return the teachers’ seniority,” he promised.
The Chegi leader said he knows “what it means to be on the right side and on the wrong side,” given that the party must “be that voice” for teachers “because PS and SDP are no more.”
Wants to repeal the Citizenship Law and abolish the SEF
In the next legislature, Ventura says he wants to repeal the Citizenship Act, as well as dismantle the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).
“If we win the elections, Chega will reverse the process of closing the SEF carried out by the PS,” he explained.
“And we will repeal this Nationality Law so that no one can enter, be or be Portuguese without being able to speak the language and without knowing the Portuguese culture,” he also said.
Ready to become prime minister
“This is our time, our moment, the moment we have been waiting for so long. I am ready to become Prime Minister of Portugal. Today I feel as ready as Sa Carneiro felt in 1979,” said Andre Ventura.
Chegi’s leader recalls that the party was “born without fear, with popular power, without much interest” and believes that this time it will be able to win the legislative elections on March 10.
At the end of his speech, Andre Ventura called for public participation and shouted: “Viva Viana, long live Chega and long live Portugal!”
Reactions
PSD
PSD General Secretary Hugo Soares represented the party at the Chegi congress and accused André Ventura of making a populist speech.
“This is populism in its most insignificant form. The future does not stop there. People’s problems can be solved seriously, not with snake oil,” he stressed.
Hugo Soares also said that the PSD does not count on Andre Ventura for anything, even in pre- and post-election coalitions.
PS
João Paulo Correia, PS representative at the convention, described leader Chega’s speech as “a speech of hatred, extremism and division” and took the opportunity to clarify and correct some of Ventura’s accusations.
“It is a lie that immigrants are a burden on government accounts. In 2022, immigrants’ contributions to the social security system amounted to 1,800 million euros, resulting in a positive social security balance of 1,600 million euros,” he said.
Author: morning Post
Source: CM Jornal
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