André Ventura
André Ventura | |
|---|---|
Ventura in 2024 | |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| Assumed office 3 June 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Luís Montenegro |
| Preceded by | Carlos César (acting) |
| President of Chega | |
| Assumed office 9 April 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Party established |
| Member of the Assembly of the Republic | |
| Assumed office 25 October 2019 | |
| Constituency | Lisbon |
| Member of the Council of State | |
| Assumed office 19 June 2024 | |
| Appointed by | Assembly of the Republic |
| Member of the Moura Municipal Assembly | |
| Assumed office 26 September 2021 | |
| Member of the Loures City Council | |
| In office 23 October 2017 – 26 October 2018 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 January 1983 Algueirão, Sintra, Portugal |
| Political party | Chega (since 2019) |
| Other political affiliations | Social Democratic Party (2001–2018) |
| Spouse |
Dina Marques Nunes (m. 2016) |
| Alma mater | NOVA University Lisbon University College Cork |
| Occupation | Politician, football pundit (formerly), trainee priest (formerly) |
André Claro Amaral Ventura (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐ̃ˈdɾɛ vẽˈtuɾɐ]; born 15 January 1983) is a Portuguese far-right politician, former sports pundit and trainee priest, and founder of the right-wing populist political party Chega. He acts as the leader of the opposition since Chega finished in second place in Portugal's 2025 general election, leading the Opposition Shadow Cabinet.
Ventura was affiliated with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) until 2018, having run for Mayor of Loures in 2017 as the PSD candidate. He founded the political party Chega in April 2019 and six months later was elected to the Assembly of the Republic in the October 2019 legislative election. In 2021, he ran for President of Portugal, coming third in the election with 11.9% of the votes. In the 2024 Portuguese legislative election, Chega, under his leadership, received 18.1% of the vote, more than quadrupling its seat count to a final total of 50.
Ventura has faced criticism over his alleged racist and discriminatory speech against minority groups.