Latest news with #Chega
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Portugal's new minority centre-right government takes power
LISBON, June 18 (Reuters) - A minority centre-right government formally took power in Portugal on Wednesday after parliament threw out a motion by the small opposition Communist Party calling for rejection of the new administration's programme. In its programme, the government promises to continue cutting taxes for the middle class and companies, maintain budget surpluses and have a permanent dialogue with the opposition on key issues such as immigration. The Communists, with just three seats in the 230-member parliament, had accused the incoming government in their motion of working "against the interests of workers" and also opposed plans to raise defence spending to 2% of national output. But the largest opposition parties - the far-right Chega and the centre-left Socialists - delivered on an earlier promise to vote against the motion, paving the way for Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's Democratic Alliance (AD) coalition to take office. Montenegro has kept most of the same key ministers in his new cabinet after the AD coalition won a snap election on May 18. Although the AD obtained more seats than in the previous election, it again fell short of a working majority in a fragmented parliament, while the anti-establishment, anti-immigration Chega emerged as the main opposition force. "Political stability is everyone's task, this government is here for the four-year legislature," Montenegro said on Tuesday. Chega leader Andre Ventura said "it is not time to obstruct" the government, even though he did not consider it to be a good one, but promised to "take seriously the work of leading this opposition... and tell you to your face what is wrong". The government's first big test is likely to be passing the 2026 budget towards the end of the year. No new parliamentary election can be called until at least mid-2026 because Portugal will hold a presidential election next January.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Portugal's new minority centre-right government takes power
Andre Ventura, leader of Portugal's far-right political party Chega, speaks during the debate on the new elected government program, at the parliament in Lisbon, Portugal, June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro speaks during the debate on the new elected government program, at the parliament in Lisbon, Portugal, June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes Portugal's law makers vote on the new elected government program, at the parliament in Lisbon, Portugal, June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes LISBON - A minority centre-right government formally took power in Portugal on Wednesday after parliament threw out a motion by the small opposition Communist Party calling for rejection of the new administration's programme. In its programme, the government promises to continue cutting taxes for the middle class and companies, maintain budget surpluses and have a permanent dialogue with the opposition on key issues such as immigration. The Communists, with just three seats in the 230-member parliament, had accused the incoming government in their motion of working "against the interests of workers" and also opposed plans to raise defence spending to 2% of national output. But the largest opposition parties - the far-right Chega and the centre-left Socialists - delivered on an earlier promise to vote against the motion, paving the way for Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's Democratic Alliance (AD) coalition to take office. Montenegro has kept most of the same key ministers in his new cabinet after the AD coalition won a snap election on May 18. Although the AD obtained more seats than in the previous election, it again fell short of a working majority in a fragmented parliament, while the anti-establishment, anti-immigration Chega emerged as the main opposition force. "Political stability is everyone's task, this government is here for the four-year legislature," Montenegro said on Tuesday. Chega leader Andre Ventura said "it is not time to obstruct" the government, even though he did not consider it to be a good one, but promised to "take seriously the work of leading this opposition... and tell you to your face what is wrong". The government's first big test is likely to be passing the 2026 budget towards the end of the year. No new parliamentary election can be called until at least mid-2026 because Portugal will hold a presidential election next January. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Hate speech rising in Portugal: European monitor
LISBON: Portugal's leaders must do more to fight crimes and hate speech against minorities, including immigrants, Roma, black people and LGBTQ people, the Council of Europe's anti-discrimination body said Wednesday. In a new report, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) highlighted a sharp rise in hate speech in Portugal. It comes as the far-right party Chega has risen to become the main opposition force. ECRI 'calls on Portugal to improve the way law enforcement officials deal with hate crimes and to commit to Roma inclusion,' the Strasbourg-based body said in a statement. 'ECRI expresses concern about the rise of online hate speech and the divisive and inflammatory discourse used by some politicians,' it added, singling out some members of Chega. The party became the country's main opposition force following May's legislative elections. 'Cases of hate-motivated violence have been reported, at times involving neo-Nazi groups,' the statement added. On Tuesday, police in Portugal announced the arrest of six individuals affiliated with a far-right group, suspected of 'terrorist activities, discrimination and incitement to hatred and violence'. Local media reported on Wednesday that one of those arrested was a police officer and that the group he allegedly belonged to was planning, among other things, an attack on the parliament. The ECRI report also noted the persistence of reports about cases of racist abuse, including racial profiling, by the police.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Portugal Premier Gets Backing From Opposition in Parliament Vote
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's minority government got backing from the two biggest opposition parties in a vote in parliament after his center-right coalition won a snap election in May. A motion presented by the Communists to reject the recently reelected government's program was defeated on Wednesday as groups including far-right party Chega and the Socialists voted against the proposal, as previously announced. Jose Pedro Aguiar Branco, the president of parliament, announced the results of the vote.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Portugal police dismantle armed far-right group, arrest six
LISBON, June 17 (Reuters) - Portuguese police have arrested six people suspected of belonging to a far-right group seeking to create an illegal armed militia, and seized firearms and explosives, police said on Tuesday, adding that those arrested faced terrorism charges. The arrests follow several incidents over the past few months involving other far-right and neo-Nazi groups in Portugal, where the anti-immigration party Chega last month became the second-largest parliamentary force, raising concerns about hate speech. Those arrested, including a senior police officer according to Publico newspaper, are believed to belong to the otherwise little-known Lusitanian Armillary Movement, whose name alludes to one of Portugal's national symbols, the armillary sphere. They are facing charges of being part of a terrorist group, incitement of hatred and violence, and possession of banned weapons, police said in a statement. Among the weapons seized were automatic firearms, some made with 3D printers, edged weapons as well as ammunition. Police said the group sought to establish itself as a political movement backed by an armed militia. The investigation started after authorities detected online activity that they said displayed strong signs of radical nationalist extremism with calls for violence against immigrants and refugees. The European Union has said hate speech is on the rise in Portugal, where four decades of fascist dictatorship ended in a 1974 revolution, and the far right is gaining support after Chega became the main opposition in parliament in last month's election. A week ago, a group of neo-Nazis attacked several actors outside a Lisbon theatre during Portugal Day celebrations, prompting the government, criticised by left-wing parties for what they see as failure to take action against far-right groups, to condemn the violence and promise an investigation. In April, far-right groups provoked clashes in downtown Lisbon, marring celebrations of the 51st anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, which ended the dictatorship.
