Parliament to debate changes tomorrow (Friday)
Ahead of the debate in parliament tomorrow on proposed changes to Portugal’s laws on immigration/ nationality, the government has been meeting with opposition parties.
Yesterday discussions went ahead with the country’s second political force, right wing CHEGA, as well as Iniciativa Liberal.
Today is the moment for discussions with PS Socialists whose leader has already said cannot accept proposals in the form in which they have been presented.
None of this gives a lot of time before the debate for the draft bills amending the nationality law, the legal regime governing entry, stay, departure and removal of foreigners from Portugal and the creation of a National Foreigners and Borders Unit within the PSP police with responsibility for airport border control, deportation and inspection of foreigners in the country – a plan that was rejected in the previous legislative term where political make-up was different.
At the first Council of Ministers of this new government under Luís Montenegro the executive approved a draft bill amending the nationality law – increasing the period of residence in Portugal required to obtain citizenship (from five to seven or ten years, depending on whether the citizens are from Portuguese-speaking or non-Portuguese-speaking countries).
The government also provides for the possibility of loss of nationality for those naturalised less than 10 years ago and sentenced to effective prison terms of 5 years or more for serious crimes.
As for the granting of nationality to descendants of foreigners residing in Portugal, legal residence for a period of 3 years is now required.
In the law on foreigners, the government intends to restrict work visas to “highly skilled activities”, limit access to family reunification and change the conditions for granting residence permits to nationals of member states of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).
IL has already expressed its agreement with most of the proposals, while CHEGA and the PS are asking for concessions – in opposite directions.
According to the Constitution, laws regulating the “acquisition, loss and reacquisition of Portuguese citizenship” take the form of organic laws, meaning that any amendment to the nationality law must be approved by an absolute majority of MPs in office, i.e. 116 votes, which will require a vote in favour either from the PS or CHEGA (in addition to those of the PSD and CDS-PP, which have a total of 91 MPs).
Immigrant associations have lamented the government’s focus, complaining that Portugal’s attitude towards immigrants is causing them a degree of panic and trepidation.
Source: LUSA
