Latest news with #Odemira
The Guardian
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Portuguese far-right leader taken to hospital after second collapse
The leader of Portugal's far-right Chega party has been taken to hospital after another collapse during a rally days before the country votes in its third snap election since 2022. André Ventura, whose brash, blunt leadership style has helped make the populist, anti-immigration party Portugal's third biggest political force, was taken ill at an event in the southern town of Odemira on Thursday, two days after a similar episode. Videos from the rally showed Ventura, 42, grabbing his chest and trying to undo his tie before falling into the arms of aides who carried him away. He was taken to a local clinic and then transferred to a hospital in Setúbal, near Lisbon, to undergo a medical procedure. Ventura had been discharged from hospital in Faro on Wednesday after his previous collapse. The hospital said he had had an oesophageal spasm caused by gastric reflux and high blood pressure. The Chega MP Marta Silva told CNN Portugal on Thursday that an electrocardiogram in an ambulance immediately after the second collapse had shown that 'everything is well with his heart' and that it was probably another spasm. Ventura posted a picture of himself giving a thumbs-up sign from a hospital bed on Thursday afternoon. 'This is a setback and a difficulty,' he wrote on X. 'It won't bring us down. Keep going … keep going!!! Portugal is much more important, it is this country that moves us.' Chega looks likely to once again finish third on Sunday, behind the ruling, centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) and the Socialist party (PS). Recent polls put the AD on about 33%, the PS on 26% and Chega on 17%. Ventura's efforts to win a place in government have been rebuffed by Portugal's prime minister, Luís Montenegro, who has repeatedly ruled out any deal with the far-right party. Chega, which has campaigned on a promise to clean up Portuguese politics at the same time as increasing its rhetoric against the Roma population, has been hit by a series of damaging allegations relating to some of its members over recent months. Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion In January, Chega expelled one of its MPs from the party after he was accused of stealing suitcases at several airports. Another party member was caught drink-driving the same month, while a third has been charged with paying for oral sex with an underage male, who was 15 at the time. Reuters contributed to this report
Irish Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Portugal far-right leader suffers second collapse days before election
The leader of Portugal 's far-right party Chega collapsed on Thursday during an open-air campaign rally in advance of Sunday's general election and was rushed to hospital, two days after suffering a similar incident at another party event. In videos from the rally in Odemira in southern Portugal that circulated online, Andre Ventura (42), could be seen grabbing his chest and trying to undo his tie before collapsing into the arms of his aides who carried him away. Hospital clinical director Jose Sousa e Costa said Mr Ventura was in a stable condition and although there was currently no indication he was suffering from a heart problem, further medical exams were required. Mr Ventura will be transferred to another hospital in Setubal, near Lisbon, to undergo a medical procedure. READ MORE Mr Ventura was discharged from hospital in Faro only on Wednesday after his previous collapse. The hospital said he had an esophageal spasm caused by gastric reflux and high blood pressure. Chega lawmaker Marta Silva told CNN Portugal the electrocardiogram in an ambulance immediately after the second collapse showed that 'everything is well with his heart' and it was likely another spasm. Mr Ventura founded the anti-establishment Chega in 2019, advocating tougher sentences for criminals, calling for an end to Portugal's 'open doors' immigration policy and accusing the mainstream political parties of perpetuating corruption. Chega became the third-largest parliamentary force in 2022 and quadrupled its parliamentary seats last year to 50 after running on a platform of fighting corruption and immigration. Most analysts say the party is a one-man show, owing its success to Ventura's fiery eloquence, charisma and good looks. In advance of Sunday's election, opinion polls show Chega in third place, little changed from its 2024 result of 18 per cent, its meteoric rise apparently stalled by recent scandals involving several senior party members. – Reuters
