Andre Ventura, the leader of Portugal's far-right party Chega, experienced a second collapse during a campaign rally in Odemira, southern Portugal, just days before the general election. This incident occurred merely two days after a similar episode at another party event.
Ventura, 42, was seen clutching his chest and attempting to loosen his tie before collapsing into the arms of his aides, who quickly rushed him to the hospital. This marks the second time in a week Ventura has been hospitalized, with the previous incident attributed to an esophageal spasm caused by gastric reflux and high blood pressure.
A Chega lawmaker reassured the public that an electrocardiogram performed immediately after the collapse indicated no heart issues, suggesting another esophageal spasm. Ventura himself described the earlier incident as a "very, very frightening episode" in a video posted on X.
Founded in 2019, Chega has rapidly risen to become the third-largest force in Portugal's parliament, advocating for stricter criminal sentences, an end to the country's "open doors" immigration policy, and accusing mainstream parties of corruption. Despite its growth, analysts view Chega as largely dependent on Ventura's charisma and oratory skills.
With the election looming, polls place Chega in third, mirroring its 2024 performance of 18%. However, the party's momentum may be hindered by recent scandals involving key members.
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