“There is a difference between reality and narratives constructed about it”
Portugal’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa warned today of the difference between the reality of immigration and narratives that are constructed about it.
In response to a question about CHEGA’s proposal for a referendum on immigration, Marcelo said he believes “it is fundamental, when talking about immigration, in a country like ours, which has always been one of emigration, to know what we are talking about”.
He was responding to a question from a student at the PSD Summer University, taking place in Castelo de Vide, Portalegre.
In his answer, Marcelo detailed the figures on immigration in Portugal to conclude that “to keep these figures in mind is to keep in mind the difference between reality and speeches or narratives”.
The question referred to Marcelo’s analysis of CHEGA’s proposal – and what constitutional framework a referendum could have.
Marcelo began by explaining that the country has roughly one million immigrants “out of almost eleven million who are the resident population in our territory.
“Of that million, how many make up the Brazilian and Luso-Brazilian community? Perhaps more than 300,000, growing rapidly and likely to be more than 400,000 by 2026 or 2027”.
From Brazilians, the president moved on to Ukrainians, saying that there are “70,000 or thereabouts” in Portugal, including old immigrants and victims of war, who together account for nearly 40% of the total.
“Let’s add communities that are also old and solid – from Britain, Cabo Verde, Angola and India. We will have not far from 200,000. And that’s nearly 60% of the total…”
Marcelo identified “other classic European groups – with Italians and French at the top”, which account for almost “two-thirds of the total”.
With immigrants from Portuguese-speaking African countries on the one hand and those “from the Americas’ on the other, it comes to 70-some per cent.
“Let’s not forget the recent arrivals from Asia – such as Nepal and Bangladesh – and we’ll be approaching the total,’ he added.
Marcelo went on to say that the majority of the communities are Christian, “of various faiths and churches”.
“What weight do Muslims, including Ismailis, have? Probably less than 10%”, he said.
Immigration has been high on the political agenda of CHEGA leader André Ventura, who has announced a demonstration for September 21 against what he considers to be “uncontrolled immigration and insecurity on the streets”.
Since then the government has ruled out any kind of referendum, and various sectors of the economy (construction/ agriculture) have stressed they could not operate sustainably without immigrants.
Source: LUSA
