In an interview with TVI and CNN Portugal, the Chega leader highlighted the red lines for immigration and, regarding the controversy surrounding children's names, said he had information about school principals and parents' associations that confirmed situations of alleged injustice in access to education for Portuguese citizens.
André Ventura once again focused his speech on immigration, access to social support, and the education system this Wednesday in an interview with TVI and CNN Portugal, following the controversy surrounding the names of immigrant children . The Chega leader stated that "something is not right" when, in a Portuguese school, "we have difficulty finding a Pedro, a Maria, and a Sara," considering that there are "unfair privileges" in access to education, given especially to foreign children and those from socially supported families.
"I want a tolerant country, but I want a country intolerant of privilege. It's always the country of the poor, everything is always for them," he stated, arguing that there are Portuguese mothers who "have to quit" because they can't afford to send their children to daycare, while others, he says, benefit without contributing.
During the interview, Ventura revealed that he had met with school principals and parents' associations who, according to him, confirmed situations of alleged injustice in access to education.
"The teachers told us at the meeting that if a Portuguese national student, the child of Portuguese parents, changes location mid-year, they can't transfer schools. A foreign student arrives and goes straight to the school where the other kid wanted to go," he argued.
The five "red lines" of immigration
For André Ventura, there are five non-negotiable principles regarding immigration and nationality granting. Namely, those who enter the country illegally should not be "rewarded" with residence visas; Portuguese nationality should not be granted to those who depend on social benefits—"we already have our own to pay them benefits"; cases of fraudulently obtained nationality should be annulled without the possibility of reapplication; emigrants should arrive with health insurance to avoid overburdening public services—"we cannot allow them to come to Portugal to have children"; and those who obtain nationality and commit serious crimes, such as rape or murder, should lose that right.
On this last point, the president of Chega issued a warning to the government: "If the PSD finds this too radical, I will withdraw the agreement."
Despite establishing himself as the leader of the opposition, André Ventura demonstrated his willingness to implement government measures.
"Being the leader of the opposition is not the same as being a leader of destruction, it's not about wanting to destroy everything. I'm neither Pedro Nuno Santos nor José Luís Carneiro, nor any leader of the Socialist Party," he observed.
He mentioned, as an example, the fact that Chega demanded - and the Government agreed - the introduction of a clause that would lower the IRS for "those who earn less and the middle class".
However, he refused to give guarantees about the viability of the next State Budget, insisting that the opposition's role should be to monitor and not to be a "Government crutch."
Presidential elections out of priorities
Regarding a possible presidential candidacy, Ventura dismissed the possibility, saying he did not believe it would be “positive for the Portuguese right” at this time.
"The country has just given us the leadership of the opposition," he explained, admitting that he is more distant from a possible candidacy and preferring a figure "outside the system," firm in the fight against corruption and in the defense of security.
André Ventura also took the opportunity to reiterate that he "never" spoke with Major General Isidro de Morais Pereira "about any presidential issue", just as "no one in the leadership of Chega" did.
Regarding Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, the Chega leader criticized his recent statement that he "always voted for those who won in recent years," questioning whether this means he supported figures like José Sócrates or António Costa.
"It's not a good sign for anyone who wants to be on an anti-system line," he said.
The party's priority, Ventura assures, is the local elections. "We want to show that we know how to govern without corruption and without the influence we've had in local government in recent years," he argued, assuring that the party is preparing candidates across the country.