During a visit to the future Central Hospital of Alentejo in Évora, before the official opening of the PSD/CDS-PP parliamentary days, Hugo Soares was asked about a challenge posed by the PS Secretary-General, José Luís Carneiro, to the Prime Minister for negotiating with socialists a proposal for a “Strategic Agreement for a National Development and Defense Capability Plan” within a defined period of three months.
The parliamentary leader deferred a more concrete response to the Prime Minister, noting that Luís Montenegro had already met with the leaders of PS and Chega in São Bento regarding this matter.
“I wish that opposition parties, notably the PS, a historic and founding party of democracy, would not only want this commitment in areas that seem to have more social consensus. In what needs transformation, where it’s necessary to challenge established interests, where a transformative spirit is needed, I would also like to count on the PS, especially in changes to the nationality law,” he stated.
When asked if the PSD confirms, as mentioned by Chega’s leader André Ventura, that there is “a principle of agreement” with the Government on nationality law—which will be discussed in detail in September—Hugo Soares promised to revisit the topic at the start of the parliamentary days, scheduled for early afternoon, reiterating only what has been stated as the general principle of AD.
“We have made a commitment to the country considering the election results: to dialogue, build bridges with all parties with parliamentary representation, and all means indeed all,” he declared.
On Saturday, André Ventura claimed that there is a “principle of agreement” with the AD (pre-electoral coalition PSD/CDS-PP) concerning some guidelines to change the nationality law, acknowledging a commitment to block several hearings requested by the left.
The Committee on Constitutional Affairs favorably voted on Friday, in the specialty, on changes to the immigration law, with votes against from the left, which claimed breaches of the law due to the lack of mandatory opinions.
The vote included a Government bill and amendments requested by Chega, focusing on subjects such as family reunification and legal stay duration in the national territory, which were approved by all right-wing parties (PSD, CDS-PP, Chega, and Liberal Initiative).
According to the left, in this specialty process, opinions from the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM) and the Superior Council of Administrative and Fiscal Courts (CSTAF) are lacking.
Also approved was the Government’s proposal to create the new National Unit for Foreigners and Borders within the PSP, with votes in favor from PSD, Chega, IL, and CDS, and abstention from the left.
Although this measure was passed without opposing votes, its voting was delayed by about three hours due to a political impasse between Chega and PSD regarding the potential payment of a supplement to the officers of this new PSP unit.
