2024 is widely expected to be the year in which right-wing parties will make significant electoral gains in most European countries.
Portugal is no exception to this rule, as tomorrow's national elections could lead to a seismic political shift – with the populist Chiga (Kafa) party looking set to double its vote results and consolidate its position as the third largest party.
Because of its well-reasoned proposals on immigration and economic issues, Chega has inevitably been dubbed “controversial” and “far-right.”
For decades, deeply corrupt center-left and center-right parties ruled the small Atlantic coast country, but recent corruption scandals and poor economic performance have put Chega in a position to play a pivotal role.
Economist Agnese Ortolani explained to the British newspaper Express:
“The far-right populist Chiga (Enough) party, the third largest party, appears poised to make the biggest gains in the elections.”
The center-left Socialist Party and the center-right Social Democratic Party, both mired in corruption allegations, have traditionally alternated in power.
Early elections were held tomorrow after the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa, who is implicated in corruption investigations.
Forming a right-wing coalition that includes the Chega party may be the only way for the center-right Socialist Socialist Party to govern.
“Although Social Democratic Party leader Luis Montenegro has ruled out any post-election agreement with Chega, opinion polls suggest such an alliance may be necessary for the center-right party to be able to govern effectively.
Led by Andre Ventura, Chega has positioned itself as a champion against corruption, calling for stricter immigration rules, economic populism, and a host of controversial measures. “Chiga combines economic populism with tougher security and immigration rules,” Ortolani noted. “Her potential inclusion or support in a right-wing coalition led by the Democratic Action Party would shift politics further to the right.”
The Telegraph reported:
A trainee priest and former football pundit is set to achieve a stunning result in Portugal's general election, with opinion polls predicting his party will double its seats and bring far-right politics back into the mainstream for the first time in half a century.
It took just five years for Andre Ventura, who was also a law lecturer, tax inspector and member of the center-right PSD party, to turn Chiga (enough) into a major political force.
His party is expected to win at least 15 percent in Sunday's election, doubling its previous result and easily putting it in third place.
This means that although Portugal's largest parties have so far ruled out working with Chiga over concerns that Ventura, 41, is too extreme, he could become a kingmaker in the new parliament.
