André Ventura wants to be the opposition to the PS: “Enough promised and fulfilled: we are the third political force in Portugal”
André Ventura entered the room apotheotically to begin his victory speech, with the militants shouting “Portugal” over a triumphal song. Chega do Chega took the stage at 11:30 pm, and the machine after Chega preferred to wait for Ventura’s statements before taking stock of this election night.
“How big, big, big”, he will reply “it is every day that they go to our work and the night of thousands of Portuguese”, he said “enough to put up with lies and attacks by other political parties” they did not “let go”. The “message” was “direct”, assured Ventura: “We want the Chega solution as a right-wing government”, he added. In total, Chega has now elected up to 11 deputies.
Ventura also criticized the PSD – “the right does not know how to live up to its responsibilities” – for having spent the campaign rejecting agreements with Chega. “They spent time saying that with Chega no, and the result is in sight: With Chega yes”, underlined Ventura to a room in euphoria. “The big cost of this is Rui Rio.”
Of all majority, majority in all PS: “I hope that António Costa is not absolute. António Costa, I’m going after you now”, he guaranteed, remembering that building a “great right-wing alternative to replace the PS in power”. “We will be opposition in Portugal,” he said.
The room at the Marriott Hotel in Lisbon was empty, even during the arrival time, calmer at night. However, with the entry of Ventura, militants and supporters of Chega mobilized – shouts of the leader and some of the names elected to the Assembly of the Republic: there were hugs, jumps in the air and many others.
After the speech, the party was intense and included champagne. But it also shortens: Ventura left the room around 00:20, having made a point of leaving the room to meet the journalists.