Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities Advocates for Historic Amendment to Nationality Law
In a significant development for the global Sephardic community, José Cesário, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, has expressed strong support for amending the country’s nationality law to include language proficiency as a connection criterion for descendants of Sephardic Jews seeking Portuguese citizenship.
The initiative, spearheaded by Luso-Brazilian lawyer Fabricio Marvilla, proposes modifying Article 6(7) of Portugal’s Nationality Law to establish Portuguese language proficiency as a legitimate alternative to the currently required legal residence connection. The proposal comes in response to the 2022 legislative changes that have created substantial barriers for Sephardic descendants applying for nationality.
Background: The 2022 Legislative Hurdle
Since the 2022 amendment to Portugal’s nationality law, the requirement of legal residence has emerged as the primary obstacle for descendants of Sephardic Jews seeking to obtain Portuguese citizenship. What was originally intended as a reparative measure for historical injustice has become increasingly inaccessible to many qualified applicants. The current requirements effectively limit access to a program designed to acknowledge Portugal’s historical relationship with the Sephardic community and repair centuries-old injustices.
A Cultural and Historical Alternative
During a recent meeting with Marvilla, Secretary Cesário explicitly endorsed the petition’s objective, describing the proposal as both feasible and aligned with the law’s original intent. While refraining from committing to specific legal language for the future amendment, Cesário emphasized his dedication to broadening the connection criteria and pledged to bring the matter to the leadership of his party, the Social Democratic Party (PSD).
When directly questioned by Carolina Varela, a close aide to Marvilla, about whether the PSD would support adding A2-level (upper beginner) Portuguese language proficiency as a connection criterion under Article 6(7), Cesário was unequivocal: this is indeed his party’s position.
“Language is the guiding thread of the Portuguese Sephardic heritage. To deny its relevance as a connection is to ignore the very history that the law sought to honor,” argued Marvilla, emphasizing that language proficiency represents an objective, verifiable, and culturally significant criterion that honors the living heritage maintained by Sephardic communities across Latin America, Europe, and Israel.
Petition Progress and Political Momentum
The petition promoted by Marvilla, with substantial backing from representatives of the Sephardic community and international lawyers, has successfully completed its admissibility and signature phases. It now awaits a parliamentary hearing, which was delayed due to the formation of a new government following recent elections—the circumstance that directly prompted the meeting with Secretary Cesário.
Cesário, who has previously engaged in discussions about this proposal with representatives of the Sephardic community in Lisbon, welcomed the revival of this important debate and outlined plans for further diplomatic and institutional actions. He announced his intention to address the topic during his upcoming visit to Israel and expressed optimism that the new Portuguese government will be receptive to revising the current legislation’s requirements.
A Path Forward for Historical Justice
According to Marvilla, the proposal to recognize Portuguese language knowledge as an effective connection not only revives the reparatory spirit of the original law but establishes a criterion that is both practical and deeply meaningful. The language-based alternative would acknowledge the living cultural heritage that many Sephardic descendants have maintained across generations, despite centuries of diaspora.
The legislative amendment proposal will be formally submitted based on the already admitted petition, with supporters anticipating that the first petitioner’s hearing will take place in the near future, thereby initiating the necessary legislative process for this significant change.
The support from political figures like Secretary Cesário has revitalized hope for thousands of Sephardic descendants worldwide who aspire to Portuguese citizenship without facing disproportionate requirements. Using Portuguese language proficiency as an alternative connection appears to offer a fair and balanced path that aligns with the historical intention of Portugal’s Nationality Law: to address past injustices and strengthen the enduring ties between Portugal and its diaspora around the world.
