Religion plays a major role in André Ventura’s life. As a teenager, he attended a Catholic seminary. Inflicting pain on himself with a penance belt was part of his spiritual experience. Although he left the seminary to become a lawyer and later a politician, his relationship with politics is still tinged with religion. The leader and founder of the Chega party claims that God has entrusted him with the „task of changing Portugal.“ In order to fulfill this task, Ventura believes that nationalist and ultra-right-wing politics are obviously needed.