From Trainee Priest to TV Pundit: Europe’s New Far-Right Figure
- Chega leader Andre Ventura has seen a surge in support
- Party has increased parliament presence to 48 seats from 12
Andre Ventura votes at a polling station during the general election in Lisbon, Portugal on March 10.
Photographer: Zed Jameson/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
When Portugal’s far-right Chega party won its first seat in parliament five years ago, a chorus of people, including some politicians, called for it to be banned.
An online petition seeking to abolish the party, accusing it of spreading fascist ideology, collected more than 30,000 signatures. Founder Andre Ventura said some lawmakers refused to speak to him in the halls of parliament, and a Socialist Party member asked authorities to investigate Chega’s sources of financing.