Lisbon, Sept. 24, 2026 (Lusa) - The leader of the far-right Chega party on Thursday challenged the Socialist Party (PS) to approve the proposal to reduce VAT on fuel, whilst the PSD's parliamentary leader described him as a «charlatan», claiming that the measure would only come into force in January.
At the opening of the debate called by his party's parliamentary group, André Ventura directly challenged the PS secretary-general to approve his bill to reduce VAT on fuel from 23% to 13%, stating that, in return, Chega would support the PS's draft resolution.
Whilst Chega's proposal would come into force with the 2027 State Budget – that is, from January onwards, the PS is recommending that the Government temporarily reduce VAT on fuel to the same intermediate rate, a measure with a «quarterly timeframe» and subject to monthly review.
The Chega leader argued that fuel taxes amount to «national theft» and criticised the Government's absence from this debate, claiming that the prime minister was «at a football gala».
The PSD's parliamentary leader described the Chega leader as «a political charlatan» and accused him of lying to the Portuguese people, pointing out that the far-right party's proposal «cannot be implemented tomorrow; it might possibly be implemented in January». At this point, protests and stomping could be heard from the Chega benches.
Hugo Soares also said that «only an uneducated person or a charlatan could claim that the prime minister of Portugal, who is not present at this debate today, is at a football gala», noting that Luís Montenegro is in New York to «represent Portugal at the United Nations General Assembly».
The PSD's secretary-general also likened André Ventura to former Prime Minister José Sócrates: «For André Ventura, it doesn't matter how much, how or where; what matters is the path, and his path is to lead the country to bankruptcy».
In response, on behalf of the PS, parliamentary leader Eurico Brilhante Dias said that «Chega's pretences and theatrics are becoming increasingly easy to see through» and that the party's proposals are for January, when «people need support today».
The Socialist said Ventura had «let down his electorate» when, in the two previous votes on PS draft resolutions to tackle the rising cost of living, in April and July, he had scuppered these measures, first by voting against them and then by abstaining.
«Your electorate needed you to have supported the Socialist Party's proposals,» he said, accusing Chega of giving the government a «way out».
In response to requests for clarification, André Ventura turned the comparison with José Sócrates back on the PSD and the prime minister, arguing that «what constitutes political deception is telling people that things are getting better and better, going to the New York Stock Exchange and claiming we have the best economy in Europe, and then here at home, instead of cutting fuel taxes, they tell people to carpool or to save on fuel».
The Chega leader said his parliamentary group had not proposed an immediate cut in VAT on fuel because «the PS and PSD would not have allowed it», citing the ‘braking rule', and again accused the two parties of having an agreement not to cut taxes.
Hugo Soares's speech prompted a warning from the speaker of parliament. José Pedro Aguiar-Branco said that «it is one thing to criticise a policy or an action; it is quite another to make a personal accusation» and asked that the remark not be repeated.
Aguiar-Branco also pointed out that «the Rules of Procedure state that the President must issue a warning or cut off the speaker whenever he considers that the speech is aggressive or insulting towards another Member of Parliament» and warned that, should a similar situation arise in future, he would cut off the speaker «if the same tone is used».
At the opening of the debate, the speaker of parliament also noted that ARTV has provided Portuguese sign language interpretation for 20 years and paid tribute to «the professionals who keep this commitment alive, a sign that democracy reaches everyone».
During the debate, the issue resurfaced after a «parallel sign language exchange» between members of Chega and the PSD.
The PSD's parliamentary leader complained that Chega members had made a gesture that «means accusing others of stealing» and lamented that Aguiar-Branco had not reprimanded that bench.
José Pedro Aguiar-Branco considered that «it is an interesting debate» that should take place, noting that «there are those who believe that freedom of expression encompasses both the gestural dimension and the dimension of oratory, and there are those who do not».
«Here, everyone uses that sort of sign language. I will draw attention to it when it happens. […] It's very difficult for me to interpret all these gestures, not least because I haven't studied it,» he said.
FM/ADB // ADB.
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