Chega's leader, André Ventura, questioned in Parliament why Luís Neves, the current Minister of Internal Administration, was removed from the investigation of Operation Influencer. Ventura addressed Minister José Luís Carneiro during the debate on the party's motion of censure, also asking why the PS is silent on this issue and whether José Luís Carneiro should demand Luís Neves' resignation.
Rita Matias, a Chega deputy, reinforced this suspicion by stating that it is strange that a reference criminal police body for economic crime had been removed from such a relevant process that led to the fall of a Government. The deputy also revisited the Spinumviva theme to question whether, if the PJ had been removed from that investigation, the Prime Minister would remain in office.
On May 1, Chega announced it would propose in the Assembly of the Republic a parliamentary inquiry committee into Operation Influencer to verify acts of corruption in the last Government of António Costa. André Ventura stated he hoped the CPI could be approved by consensus, but PSD and PS blocked its advancement.
Operation Influencer involves suspected crimes in the construction of a data center in Sines, in lithium exploration in Montalegre and Boticas, and in energy production from hydrogen in Sines. In November 2023, five people were detained and later released, including the then chief of staff of António Costa, in a case that led to the fall of the PS Government.
