“My idea is this: it is a topic where all parties will do their utmost to try to find a solution that reconciles the concerns that justify legislative initiatives with a general strategic vision for the country,” he stated on Friday, upon arriving in the archipelago for a visit until Sunday, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of independence.
“Portuguese-speaking countries,” in particular, are a “very important fraternity and community,” he added.
“Let’s wait. I believe that, probably, after the summer, the result of the parliamentary work will emerge,” at which point it will be forwarded to Belém, he said.
“Only then can I express myself,” he said further, giving the same response when asked about potential unconstitutionality in the legislative proposals, as pointed out by constitutionalist Jorge Miranda.
Government initiatives to amend the nationality and immigration laws entered the specialization stage on Friday without being voted on in general terms, as well as Chega’s bills on the same subjects.
The government requested an effort to ensure consensus with the opposition parties.
The government’s draft law to amend the nationality statute aims to increase the residency period required in Portugal for obtaining citizenship (from five to seven or ten years, depending on whether the citizens are Portuguese speakers or not).
The government also envisages the possibility of revoking the nationality of those naturalized for less than ten years who are sentenced to an effective prison term of five years or more for committing serious crimes.
As for granting original nationality to descendants of foreign residents in Portugal, a legal residence for a period of three years is now required.
Chega’s bill, which also moved to the specialization stage, proposes “the loss of nationality acquired by naturalization or when having dual nationality, in cases where the individual commits acts that seriously undermine sovereignty, national security, or the essential principles of the rule of law.”
In the foreigners’ law, the government intends to restrict the job search visa “to highly qualified 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).
