Em statements to journalists in Braga, during a session with members to discuss the State Budget for 2026, Carneiro mentioned that the PS made “a very big effort, until the last moment, to achieve a more balanced solution,” but without success.
“Our fear, which we hope will not be confirmed, is that the choices the Government is making may harm the relationship with countries and citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries and weaken the more defenseless individuals,” he stated.
He gave the example of a citizen in Portugal who applied for a residence permit four years ago and is still waiting for a response from the State.
“Meanwhile, a child of that citizen has been born here in Portugal. This child has started kindergarten, or has even entered school, and if the Government’s law progresses as it is, this child may reach the age of 10, 12, 14, or 15 without having a nationality assigned. Do you see the injustice committed with such an act, which is an act of great inhumanity?” he pointed out.
José Luís Carneiro said that the proposals from the PS aimed to have a law that addressed some concerns, such as extending deadlines for non-EU citizens, giving preferential treatment to Portuguese-speaking citizens, and particularly protecting the most vulnerable, “including the children who are in our country and who are born here.”
Carneiro mentioned that there was no agreement regarding several socialist proposals and regretted that the Government chose to remain “on the path of insensitivity and inhumanity.”
He emphasized that the PS never asked for the nationality law to be changed, as they believed “there was no problem” with the current version.
He also stated that the Government “does this” to distract citizens from vital issues, such as health, housing, or the State Budget.
“These are delaying tactics, distractions for public opinion, and therefore, that is why the Government brought the foreigners law, now brings the nationality law, days ago it brought the law concerning burqas, and they will always find some distraction matters,” he criticized.
The version approved today of the nationality law will need, in a final global vote, to be approved with a qualified majority, securing at least 116 favorable votes.
Chega approved, in specialty, some points of the proposal to revise the nationality law that originated from the Government, while PS, BE, and PCP announced their overall opposition to the process.
