Lisbon, sept. 3, 2025 (Lusa) - Chega MP Rita Matias said on Wednesday that the Portuguese have chosen the government's preferred partner for the 2026 State Budget negotiations and indicated that the party is "open to dialogue".

"We are attentive and want to collaborate. André Ventura left the door open for negotiations and we hope that the government, unlike last year, realises that there is a preferred partner. That preferred partner was decided by the Portuguese on 18 May, when they gave an express majority to the right, a majority also reinforced by the Chega party," she said.

The vice-president of the Chega bench was speaking to journalists in parliament after a meeting with various members of the government to discuss the State Budget for 2026, the conflict in the Middle East, the law on nationality and foreigners and the creation of new parishes.

Rita Matias said that "what Chega wants is for the government not to wander around in zigzags".

"We are the leaders of the opposition and we are open to negotiation. However, this isn't about how it starts, it's about how it ends. It starts with Chega's open doors for dialogue, but we're not going to tolerate everything either and we're reinforcing that we don't want a repeat of last year's situation," she said.

She called on the government to be clear and not to "repeat negotiations behind closed doors, or talks that are then denied publicly".

FM/ADB // ADB.

Lusa