Portugal's PM and far-right leader clash over nationality and labor reforms
Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro will meet Chega leader André Ventura at São Bento Palace this afternoon. The discussion, scheduled for 3:30 p.m., will focus on nationality law and stalled labour market reforms. The meeting follows recent political tensions over both issues. The talks come after the Constitutional Court struck down a parliamentary decree that proposed stripping nationality as an extra criminal penalty. The court ruled the measure unconstitutional, prompting a sharp response from Chega. Ventura has since demanded that the centre-right majority either reaffirm the decree or call a public referendum on the issue.
Labour reforms have also hit a roadblock. Negotiations in the social dialogue process collapsed last Thursday without an agreement. Montenegro has since called for a deeper parliamentary debate on the matter. Labour Minister Rosário Palma Ramalho remains open to discussions with both the Socialist Party and Chega, though she dismissed Ventura’s proposal to lower the retirement age as financially unsustainable. Meanwhile, PSD parliamentary leader Hugo Soares has stressed that his party will avoid any institutional clash with the Constitutional Court. Montenegro, for his part, has argued that Portugal needs bold leadership—from politicians, business leaders, and unions—to stay competitive in the 21st century.
The meeting between Montenegro and Ventura marks a rare direct discussion between the prime minister and the far-right leader. Its outcome could shape future debates on nationality laws and labour policies. Both issues remain contentious, with legal and financial constraints complicating potential solutions.
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