André Ventura and Luís Montenegro clash over pension errors

Political tensions have escalated in Portugal following a calculation error by the Caixa Geral de Aposentações (CGA), which affected approximately 2,937 pensions between May and August 2026. The error resulted in retirees receiving higher monthly amounts than legally permitted, with an average gross difference of 93.31 euros. The CGA has notified affected individuals that they must repay the excess funds, offering options such as voluntary payment or monthly deductions from future pensions to avoid interest.

During a parliamentary debate, André Ventura, leader of the Chega party, accused Prime Minister Luís Montenegro of cutting pensions and criticized the government's economic management. Montenegro rejected these claims, stating that the issue was a technical error being corrected to comply with the law rather than a policy-driven cut. He characterized Ventura's accusations as a lack of seriousness and a false attack on his honor.

Separately, André Ventura announced his candidacy for re-election as the president of the Chega party during a National Council meeting in Lisbon. He called for internal unity within the party, which has recently reached 100,000 members, and signaled his intention to lead the party toward a victory in upcoming elections. He has scheduled a party convention for late November to demonstrate that Chega is ready to govern.