Chega, racism and nativism in Portugal: An interview with Isabel David and Samuel de Paiva Pires

Chega, a populist radical-right political party founded in 2019, has swiftly gained prominence in Portugal, challenging the notion of Portuguese exceptionalism in resisting populist radical-right ideologies. In this interview, political scientists Isabel David, an associate professor at the University of Lisbon specializing in populism and Turkish politics, and Samuel de Paiva Pires, a visiting assistant professor at the same institution with expertise in political theory, especially liberalism and conservatism, discuss the rise of the populist radical-right in Portugal, focusing on Chega’s discursive strategies. Drawing on their co-authored article ‘Racism and nativism in the discourse of Chega party in Portugal’ (co-authored with Pedro Moreira da Fonseca), they explore how Chega has instrumentalized racism and nativism to build its voter base in a country long considered resistant to the populist radical-right trend seen across Europe. The scholars analyse Chega’s strategic framing in relation to three key cognitive mechanisms: the opposition between in-group and out-groups, blame attribution and emotional triggers. They argue that the Roma community is a primary target of Chega’s specific brand of racism and nativism, with the party positioning this group as a central out-group in its rhetoric. David and de Paiva Pires reflect on the role of identity politics and the broader implications of Chega’s rise for Portugal’s political landscape and in relation to other populist radical-right movements in Europe and internationally. David and de Paiva Pires were interviewed by Deirdre Kelly, a lecturer at Technological University Dublin, on 26 August 2024. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.