The president of Chega, André Ventura, announced this Wednesday, September 2, the submission of a motion of censure against the XXV Constitutional Government, led by Luís Montenegro. The initiative comes following the controversies surrounding the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, with the party leader demanding the dismissal of the official and holding the Prime Minister responsible for his remaining in office. André Ventura stressed that the motion aims to censure the Executive for maintaining Luís Neves, citing suspicions that affect the minister's authority and transparency in the management of the portfolio.
Chega guaranteed that, should the motion be rejected through the joint opposition of the PS and PSD, the party will maintain the demand for a parliamentary inquiry committee dedicated to the minister's management. Should the motion result in the fall of the Government, the commitment is to reactivate the committee at the beginning of the next legislative session. Ventura placed the viability of the motion in the hands of the largest opposition party, challenging the socialists to pronounce themselves on the suspicions surrounding the minister.
Luís Neves categorically rejected the accusations, stating he is the target of "insinuations and lies". The official accused André Ventura of attempting to create political instability and assured that he has the legitimacy to continue in office, stating: "They do not intimidate me, they will never intimidate me". The socialist party ruled out the scenario of crisis, with its leader José Luís Carneiro signaling that the PS will not vote alongside Chega to cause the fall of the Executive.
The approval of the motion appears unlikely, being the 37th motion of censure submitted in democracy and the fourth proposal by Chega. In Portuguese constitutional history, only once has a motion of censure led to the fall of an Executive, so the rejection of the document in parliamentary debate is expected.