In the past two weeks, three prominent members of Portugal's far-right Chega party have faced accusations of criminal behavior, jeopardizing the party's "law-and-order" reputation that contributed to its rise as the third-largest group in parliament.
Chega leader Andre Ventura has distanced himself from the accused members, emphasizing the party's zero-tolerance stance on crime, encapsulated in its slogan "Clean Up Portugal." Despite this stance, Ventura acknowledged, "It's not a good moment for the party."
Chega, which has been the third-largest entity in Portugal’s parliament since 2022, increased its representation in a March election, securing 50 seats out of 230. However, its failure to play a significant role has diminished its influence. A recent poll revealed a decline in public opinion towards Ventura, with 42% of respondents viewing him less favorably over the past month, partly due to the recent criminal allegations.
One of the accused, lawmaker Miguel Arruda, is under investigation for allegedly stealing suitcases at Lisbon airport. He denies the claims and has temporarily left Chega to act as an independent parliamentarian until his immunity is lifted.
Another member, Jose Paulo Sousa, a Chega deputy in the Azores, was arrested for drunk-driving with breath alcohol levels twice the legal limit. He publicly apologized and is prepared to accept the consequences of his actions.
Nuno Pardal Ribeiro, Chega's vice-president for the Lisbon district, faces charges for allegedly paying for sexual services involving a minor. While he denied being aware of the individual's age at the time of the incident, prosecutors have pressed charges. Pardal Ribeiro supported a party proposal for chemical castration of sex offenders. Ventura stated that in such cases, "a leader does not choose what happens, but chooses how to react to what has (happened)."