CHEGA and the Populist Turn in Portuguese Politics: A Discursive Approach

Abstract This article investigates the populist trajectory of the Portuguese political party CHEGA since its foundation in 2019. Employing Ernesto Laclau’s discursive framework, it examines party programmes, official documents, and speeches delivered up to 2025, with particular attention to the rhetoric of its leader, André Ventura. The analysis shows how immigration has been elevated as a central empty signifier, enabling the articulation of diverse grievances into a polarising opposition between “the people” and “the elites”. Over time, this discourse has become increasingly personalised, with Ventura positioned as both mediator and embodiment of popular authenticity. By situating CHEGA within a Southern European context, the study contributes to a comparative understanding of contemporary populism while highlighting the analytical value of discourse theory for exploring its symbolic dimensions. In doing so, it demonstrates how populist logic can be strategically deployed to challenge institutional structures and reshape democratic contestation in Portugal, revealing its evolving political significance.