The Government’s proposal to create the PSP Foreigners and Borders Unit, alongside the executive’s draft law revising the legal regime for the entry, residence, exit, and expulsion of foreigners, saw opposition parties PSD, CDS, and Chega aiming for a final global vote by next day 16 – the final plenary session with votes before the parliamentary break for holidays.
For this to occur, approval of these bills in the speciality, within the Constitutional Affairs Committee, needed to happen in the coming days, which appears highly unlikely as PS, Bloco, or Livre have been alternately using the right of postponement to block these votes from occurring in committee before the 16th.
A social-democratic source told Lusa that the final approval of these two bills in the coming days is viewed as “very important” particularly for security reasons, fearing that delaying the enforcement of the new immigration law could trigger a “call effect” in terms of immigration.
The same source added that creating the PSP Foreigners and Borders Unit “is crucial and urgent, simply by looking at the current situation at airports.”
Today’s meeting was animated by PSD, CDS, and Chega’s rejection of the Left parties’ proposed hearings regarding the immigration law revision.
PSD Deputy Paulo Marcelo attempted to ensure there was openness to receiving written opinions, arguing that the Government has been conducting regular consultations.
He emphasized that the Government accepts hearings related to the nationality law, but for the immigration laws and the new PSP unit, “the legislative process, as much as possible and obviously complying with all constitutional and regimental rules, should be expedited, because once certain changes are announced, it is important that they are implemented.”
Isabel Moreira, PS’s coordinator in the Constitutional Affairs Committee, expressed emotion over the course of the debate, criticizing the alignment of PSD and CDS with Chega on the issue.
“These associations you refused to hear represent people who are today scared by what is happening with the changes in these laws. You know extremism is growing, and now we see the whole Right together, blocking one by one, not allowing people who represent immigrants, people who are part of our collective life. I am not ashamed of being emotional because it is becoming increasingly difficult to endure what is happening in this parliament,” she stated.
Cristina Rodrigues of Chega countered immediately: “Chega is moved every day by the reports received from Portuguese people whose lives are absolutely affected by the chaos created by the PS in immigration.”
CDS’s João Almeida argued that it is false to think the Constitutional Affairs Committee refuses to hear entities, “but the parliament cannot be condemned to only hold positions that the Left considers legitimate.”
Paulo Muacho of Livre accused the Right of refusing to “hear those directly impacted by Government bills,” with Bloco de Esquerda’s coordinator, Mariana Mortágua, emphasizing that the parliament “has the right to take an informed stance.”
PCP’s parliamentary leader, Paula Santos, highlighted that the Government bills in question “have not even been voted on generally.”
“From PSD, Chega, and CDS, there is a clear attempt to impose measures preventing the Assembly of the Republic from doing its job. This process should be handled seriously and not subject to a rushed approval that does not allow thorough reflection in the committee,” she added.
Faced with PSD, Chega, and CDS’s refusal of hearings proposed by the Left deputies, BE’s coordinator played “the last regimental card” and requested a postponement of the speciality votes through a demand with a potestative nature.
