This first one is from the moderate left party Bloco de esquerda.
Left Bloc in defense of immigrants criticizes Chega’s “xenophobic discourse”.
In a press release, the Left Bloc candidate for the national legislative elections defends immigrants working in the Region, criticizing “the xenophobic discourse” of the Chega party candidate.
“During this campaign, the Left Bloc has had the opportunity to contact some immigrants who are working in hotels and restaurants, some for more than two years. They have employment contracts, pay Social Security, IRS (personal income tax) and all taxes, but their situation has not yet been regularized by the Portuguese State services. They are not the only ones. They know others in the same situation.”
The Left Bloc candidate from Madeira for the national legislative elections considers that “this failure of public services to respond to immigrants’ regularization requests means that they do not have their documents up to date. This is a determining factor for the inclusion of anyone who leaves their country in search of a better life, but it is also a fact used to create a stigma against immigrants, difficult to understand in a Region where there is an emigrant in every family, who saw in the past, and continue to see in the present, their children leave Madeira in search of better living, personal and professional conditions.”
There is also another important factor, Diogo Teixeira points out: “immigrants are fundamental to the economy of the country and the Region in various sectors of activity, especially those that grow the most such as tourism, and they are important net contributors to currently guarantee the payment of pensions for thousands of Portuguese people.”
From the Jornal da Madeira 12-5-2025
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This second one from the extreme right candidate (hoping to represent Madeira Island).
Chega claims to be the only party capable of “expelling” illegal immigrants.
The deputy and Chega candidate for the Assembly of the Republic, Francisco Gomes, stated, in the last campaign event before Sunday’s elections, that Chega is the only political response to immigration, which, in his view, is out of control and threatening social cohesion, security, and national identity.
According to the deputy, only Chega has the courage, determination, and political capacity to expel immigrants who, he says, “take advantage of the efforts of good Portuguese people and return Portugal to its legitimate heirs.”
Francisco Gomes stated that there are already about two million immigrants in the national territory and, with family reunification, that number could quickly exceed four million, which he considers “an unbearable value for Portuguese society and for the sustainability of our culture.”
“Portugal is being transformed into a territory of Islamic affirmation and the proliferation of the worst that Islam has to offer, which is radicalism. If nothing is done, we will lose our identity, our history, and our future,” Francisco Gomes stated at the event.
Chega advocates for a package of measures, including the immediate recovery of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), the automatic deportation of immigrants who commit crimes, the establishment of a quota-based immigration system, and the requirement of a minimum period of five years of contributions before any immigrant can be eligible to receive support from the Portuguese State.
Also from the Jornal da Madeira 16-5-25.
Both articles were translated by AI.
I asked a further question to summarise the Chega stance. The following was the AI response.
Q: What are the main negative press declarations made by Fransisco Gomes of Chega during the last 2 weeks that target immigrants and other foreigners?
A: Based on the search results, Francisco Gomes of Chega has made declarations concerning immigration, particularly focusing on its perceived impact on public safety. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
- Concerns about “unregulated immigration”:
- Francisco Gomes has voiced concerns about the impact of what he describes as “unregulated immigration” on public safety.
- He and the Chega party attribute increases in illegal immigration, trafficking networks, violent crime, and the number of rapes to this “unregulated immigration,” alleging that a significant portion of these crimes are committed by immigrants.
- Chega’s proposed measures:
- Chega advocates for a set of measures, including:
- The “immediate recovery” of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).
- The automatic deportation of immigrants who commit crimes.
- The establishment of an immigration quota system.
- The requirement of a minimum five-year contribution period before immigrants are eligible for certain benefits.
- “Portugal for the Portuguese”:
- Gomes has stated that “CHEGA is the only voice that says what the Portuguese think, which is that Portugal has to go back to being for the Portuguese.” This statement indicates a nationalistic stance.
- It is important to understand that the information that is presented here, is based on the search results, and that the language used, is the language that is used in those results.
It is important to note that these declarations have generated controversy and are part of an ongoing political debate regarding immigration in Portugal.
Healing Madeira 