The leader of the PSD parliamentary group, Hugo Soares, described conversations with parties about the specifics of the foreigners’ law as normal, emphasizing that negotiations with Chega are “the most natural” since the party supported the first version of the bill.
“We will dialogue and seek to work with all parties to find a solution, with those who want to participate, of course, with those who share our perspective. It is normal, I repeat, very normal, it is the most natural thing, that we are also talking, or are talking, with the Chega party because it was the party that enabled this matter with us in the first voting,” stated Hugo Soares.
In response, the leader of the Livre parliamentary group noted that her party has not been contacted in recent days regarding the Foreigners’ Law.
“It seems very clear to us with whom the PSD and the Government have decided to discuss the foreigners’ law, nationality law, and all these matters. There is a clear collusion with Chega about these matters,” she noted.
Isabel Mendes Lopes expressed concern about this alleged political choice by the PSD, stating it indicates the government’s reluctance to address the issue as it is, but rather how Chega handles it.
“Chega approaches the issue with all the lies, all the falsehoods, all the biases, and all the prejudices that are put on the table,” she added.
The Assembly of the Republic is set to revisit the newly proposed amendments to the foreigners’ law next Tuesday, covering general, specific, and final global voting, after the original bill was rejected by the Constitutional Court.
The new proposal, announced by the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, aims for compliance with the Constitution of the Republic and maintains the requirement of two years of valid residence for family reunification requests while allowing several exceptions, including for spouses.
On August 8, the Constitutional Court ruled five provisions of the parliamentary decree, proposed by the government to amend the Foreigners’ Law, unconstitutional. These primarily concerned family reunification, including the establishment of “a blind two-year period” for requests.
This decree was approved on July 16 in the Assembly of the Republic with the favorable votes of PSD, Chega, and CDS-PP, abstention from IL, and opposition from PS, Livre, PCP, BE, PAN, and JPP.
