In remarks to journalists following a meeting with the government at the Assembly of the Republic, Mariana Leitão was questioned about whether the executive plans to allow family reunification with spouses in the new proposal of the foreigner law, which will be presented to the Assembly of the Republic after being rejected by the Constitutional Court.
“Yes, the government’s proposal aims to allow, in cases of a family unit duly recognized as a family unit—whether through marriage, residence, the criteria may vary—to reunite under these circumstances and with these validations,” she stated.
The version of the foreigner law approved by the Assembly of the Republic in July, with votes from PSD, CDS, and Chega, and later rejected by the Constitutional Court, only permitted family reunification with underage family members provided they legally entered and resided in Portugal.
In her remarks, Mariana Leitão emphasized that both the law on foreigners and nationality, the IL is available “to ensure rules and conditions that guarantee a regulated immigration of the country,” while also “ensuring the dignity of those who enter” Portugal.
“We remain open to a solution, but we also warned earlier that the government’s rushed approach in forcefully passing this foreigner law would not contribute to a positive resolution of the issues,” she mentioned.
The IL leader noted she would wait to see the government’s concrete proposal, which is expected “within a few days,” and only then could a “more detailed, concrete, and substantive analysis” of the proposed changes be made.
“We are available, and we want a law in place quickly that ensures proportionality, justice, and clear rules,” she said.
