Portugal Set to Reject Chega's No-Confidence Motion Amid Minister Scandal
Parliamentary Vote and Political Implications
By Sergio Goncalves
Background of the No-Confidence Motion
LISBON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Portugal's parliament is set to vote on Tuesday on a no-confidence motion filed by the far-right Chega party against Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's centre-right minority government, a move widely expected to fail as other opposition parties seek to avoid political disruption.
Although expected to fail, it is the first no-confidence motion faced by the current government in just 15 months in office, underscoring the fragility of Montenegro's minority administration.
Allegations Against Interior Minister Luis Neves
The motion stems from Montenegro's refusal to sack Interior Minister Luis Neves over allegations of misconduct during his eight years as head of the Judicial Police. Montenegro has called Chega's move a "mere political manoeuvre" and defended Neves as an efficient minister.
Details of the Investigation
Prosecutors are investigating how a trailer loaded with drug precursor chemicals seized in a police operation ended up at a storage site owned by a contractor who later carried out work at Neves' property. Building permits at the property and Neves' rent-free use of a car seized from a convicted drug trafficker are also being investigated.
Neves has denied any wrongdoing and refused to step down. He said the arrangement with the contractor saved the state disposal costs.
Political Reactions and Party Positions
Chega leader Andre Ventura said Neves was unfit for office and that keeping him in government showed that "the ethical standard in Portugal has completely disappeared".
Chega, with its 60 lawmakers, is the second-largest group in the 230-seat parliament. The ruling centre-right coalition has 91 seats. All other parties, including the third-largest party, the Socialists, are expected to either vote against the no-confidence motion or abstain.
Statements from Opposition Leaders
"It will not be the Socialists who throw the country into political chaos," their leader Jose Luis Carneiro said, adding that while the Neves case was eroding Montenegro's political authority, Chega was merely seeking to "occupy media space" with its motion.
Historical Context and Government Stability
Only once in Portugal's democratic history, in 1987, has parliament passed a motion of no confidence and toppled a government. Montenegro, who first came to power in April 2024, has survived two such motions already. His first administration collapsed in March 2025, however, after he himself proposed a motion of confidence and subsequently lost the vote.
(Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Hugh Lawson)
