Speaking before a dinner with municipal candidates in Charneca de Caparica, Almada, Mariana Leitão described it as “sensible” for the President of the Republic to request a preventive review of the law modifying the legal regime for the entry and stay of foreigners.
The process was “very poorly handled by the Government. It seems to us, indeed, that this situation could have been avoided and will probably take longer than if we had initially conducted a much more developed process in the Assembly of the Republic,” she said.
Mariana Leitão stated, “The Government decided to proceed at a bewildering speed, failing to consult a range of entities or potentially correct some legal issues that raised constitutional doubts.”
“Furthermore, on the last day of voting, they managed to introduce more changes at the last minute, preventing parties from properly analyzing them,” she noted.
The IL leader argued that the Government acted this way because it was “certain the law would pass with Chega’s approval,” but emphasized that the approach demonstrated a “complete lack of respect for the legislative process and the parties themselves.”
“And of course, now it hits a snag, as we will have to wait longer. We must now await the Constitutional Court’s decision, and probably the law will need to return to parliament for any necessary corrections determined by the court,” she said.
Mariana Leitão expressed hope that if the Constitutional Court declares the foreigner law unconstitutional, “there is a legislative process with the respect between institutions that is supposed to exist.”
“Respecting the other parties, to achieve a law that defends the country’s interests, those who want to emigrate to Portugal, those already here, and ensures a balance of rights and duties,” she said.
The IL leader stressed the importance of respecting “the way a legislative process should unfold” on this matter, as it directly impacts people’s lives and rights.
“Therefore, even more care and caution are necessary when legislating on these subjects, and obviously, attempting to gather as much information as possible, notably through hearings,” she added.
The President of the Republic submitted the parliament’s decree modifying the legal regime for the entry, stay, exit, and removal of foreigners from national territory to the Constitutional Court on Thursday, approved by PSD, Chega, and CDS-PP.
The head of state requested preventive oversight of the constitutionality of the norms concerning the right to family reunification and conditions for its exercise, the deadline for processing requests by the Agency for Integration Migration and Asylum (AIMA), and the right of appeal.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also requested urgency from the TC, setting a 15-day deadline for the TC’s urgent decision on the decree passed in parliament with approval from PSD, CDS-PP, and Chega, with abstentions from the IL, and votes against from PS, Livre, PCP, BE, PAN, and JPP.
