“The President of the Republic will conduct an assessment [of the immigration law], a consideration that is both political and legal, and will exercise his powers conferred by the Constitution,” he stated.
Luís Montenegro spoke to journalists upon his arrival at Herdade do Chão da Lagoa, situated in the mountains overlooking Funchal, where today the annual PSD/Madeira party festival is taking place. It’s considered the largest party event organized in the region, attended by thousands.
The Prime Minister, also the leader of the national PSD structure, assured that the executive is open to negotiations with all parties, although this “does not include any permanent governance agreement.”
“It includes the ability to approach all bills with all willing parties,” he clarified, emphasizing, “Evidently, we know there are many issues where the Socialist Party has some proximity in positions with us, and then there are other issues where the Socialist Party has shown some stubbornness regarding the positions it assumed over eight years of governance.”
Luís Montenegro cited immigration issues as an example.
“For those who have been, for example, promoting a particular immigration policy for eight years, it’s indeed difficult to change positions in eight months. It’s legitimate. And if they change, we welcome it,” he said.
Regarding Chega, he assured there is no agreement, but noted that the PSD/CDS-PP executive governs with “constant dialogue with all parties” to the right and left.
“I have had the opportunity to say, we have a political situation today that gives us stability guarantees, and given there is no absolute majority supporting the Government in parliament, the Government is required to dialogue with all political forces,” he argued.
The Prime Minister emphasized that he will fulfill the promise of not making agreements with any political force.
“I promised the Portuguese that I would neither form a coalition with Chega nor with the Socialist Party, and I will not,” he said, adding, “Now, does this mean we’re closed with one another? No. It means we have to respect the people’s will.”
On July 16, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed willingness to approve the new foreigners law if it strikes a balance between ending the “unsustainable situation” that existed and not “falling into the other extreme,” given Portugal’s need for immigrants.
The head of state stressed that if the foreigners law, approved that day in parliament, respects the Constitution, he will examine its political content.
“If I find that there is an overall balance and no specific detail that is politically negatively impactful, I will sign it,” he emphasized.
Should there be doubts “in some aspects regarding some content,” the President indicated he will return the law to the Assembly of the Republic.
[Updated at 12:38]
