“We will engage in dialogue and seek to build a solution with all parties, with those who are willing, clearly, with those who share our vision of the problem. It is normal, I repeat, very normal, and most natural that we are also in discussions, or that we are conversing, with the Chega party, because it was the party that supported this matter with us in the first vote,” he stated.
Hugo Soares addressed journalists at the Assembly of the Republic after Chega announced in a statement that it had set up, together with the PSD, a group with members from both parties to negotiate changes to the immigration law, so this legislation “is ready for approval” next week.
The PSD parliamentary leader stated that “it’s normal for the various parliamentary groups to discuss the specifics of the bills during the committee stage.”
“In the specific case, that is exactly what’s happening. The parties, as part of the work they need to do in committee, are talking so that the bill can be approved,” he indicated.
When directly asked if there will be negotiations also with the PS, Hugo Soares mentioned that the social democrats “work with all parliamentary groups with the aim of approving legislation with a goal to improve the concrete lives of the Portuguese, in this specific case, regulate immigration in Portugal with humanism.”
“It’s legislation that was returned by the Constitutional Court with some norms declared unconstitutional. This legislation was approved with Chega in the final vote. It’s normal that discussions also happen with the party that approved this legislation. We are working with that natural approach,” he defended, criticizing the time wasted on highlighting conversations between the parties.
When asked if the PSD has a preferred partner, Chega or PS, the social-democratic deputy responded that “the preferred partner of the PSD is the Portuguese people.”
Hugo Soares also expressed hope for the approval of the new version of the bill regulating the entry of foreigners into Portugal, as the country urgently needs legislation that puts an end to what was “an open door policy for many years leading to the state of affairs known to the Portuguese.”
“We genuinely need a law that regulates the entry of people into Portugal, so that this entry can be done responsibly, and at the same time, we can welcome those who seek us with humanism and dignity. For that, the law needs to change, and that is what we are working on,” he indicated.
The PSD parliamentary leader also expressed confidence that the changes announced by the Government comply with the Constitution.
Chega indicated today that it has set up, together with the PSD, a group with members from both parties to negotiate changes to the immigration law, so this legislation “is ready for approval” next week.
Lusa | 12:28 – 26/09/2025
The Assembly of the Republic will reconsider next Tuesday, in plenary, the general, committee, and final global vote, the new proposals for amending the immigration law, after this bill was rejected by the Constitutional Court.
The new proposal to amend the immigration law, announced this Wednesday by the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, among other changes aimed at its conformity with the Constitution of the Republic, maintains the two-year period of valid residence for requesting family reunification but allows several exceptions, including for spouses.
On August 8th, the Constitutional Court deemed unconstitutional five norms of the parliamentary decree that aimed, at the Government’s proposal, to amend the so-called Immigration Law, most of which concerned family reunification, including the establishment of “a blind two-year period” for the request.
This decree was approved on July 16 in the Assembly of the Republic, with favorable votes from PSD, Chega, and CDS-PP, abstention from IL, and votes against from PS, Livre, PCP, BE, PAN, and JPP.
[Updated 14:22]
