The President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has referred the Foreigners Law to the Constitutional Court, citing concerns that it may “generate differential and discriminatory treatment” for immigrants in Portugal.
The decision has been praised by left-wing parties, who from the start questioned the constitutionality of the decree, approved by the PSD, Chega, and CDS-PP.
The Socialist Party (PS) hopes for a swift process
Speaking to reporters in the Assembly of the Republic, Pedro Delgado Alves of the PS described the decision as appropriate. However, he urged the Constitutional Court to expedite the President’s urgent request to “deliver a decision within the expected time frame so that this process can be set right.”
The Socialist MP emphasized that the party remains open to “building compromise solutions within the parliamentary framework, consulting everyone.”
Libre considers the decision “the most sensible”
Libre’s MP Paulo Muacho sees the referral of the decree to the Constitutional Court as “the most sensible decision that could have been made,” and criticized the government’s legislative process.
He stated, “No one was heard,” further arguing that the law is “unjust in its content,” with provisions that “directly attack rights, freedoms, and guarantees,” discriminate against immigrants, and seek to limit “access to courts,” which is a “constitutional right.”
PCP says it was “the necessary decision”
The Portuguese Communist Party echoes the sentiment of the wider left, stating that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s decision was “necessary.”
Parliamentary leader Paula Santos criticized the foreigners’ law as “an attack on the rights of immigrants” and deemed that it introduces “unacceptable discrimination.”
While similar to Libre, she also criticized the parliamentary process.
The Left Bloc has not yet commented on the President’s decision but is expected to have a positive response, as it was the first to request the decree to be sent to the Constitutional Court.
Chega claims decision delays an “urgent” review
André Ventura acknowledges the need to clarify constitutional doubts regarding the decree, but warns that “the delay in the foreigners’ law could lead to even greater chaos in the control of immigration.”
The leader of Chega stressed the importance of the Constitutional Court acting impartially, as he perceives a tendency to lean left in these institutions.
CDS-PP awaits the Constitutional Court’s decision
The leader of the centrist parliamentary group indicated a readiness to “calmly await” the review of the decree, confident that “the law complies with constitutional and European norms.”
Paulo Núncio emphasized the “urgency” of the law as “important for stricter entry regulations to facilitate more humane integration.” He expressed willingness to solve any unconstitutionality issues raised by the Constitutional Court in the assembly.
