The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, is set to meet with several political parties at the Palácio de Belém to discuss modifications to the legal framework governing immigration. The Chega party will convene at 5:00 PM, followed by Livre at 6:00 PM, IL at 7:00 PM, and PCP at 8:15 PM.
An additional meeting with BE is scheduled for Thursday. BE was the first party to request an audience with the President regarding changes to the legal regime for the entry, stay, departure, and removal of foreigners from national territory.
BE, Livre, and PCP have expressed opposition to changes that were approved last week, while Chega advocates for the immediate endorsement of the parliamentary decree by the President.
The new framework restricts work visas to “qualified work” for individuals possessing “specialized technical skills,” with specifics to be defined in a forthcoming ordinance. It also limits family reunification rights for immigrants, granting more privileges to those holding certain residency permits, such as “golden visas.”
Parliament approved the changes, with PSD, Chega, and CDS-PP voting in favor, PS, Livre, PCP, BE, PAN, and JPP opposing, and IL abstaining. The decree was forwarded to Palácio de Belém the following day.
On Wednesday, BE coordinator Mariana Mortágua announced plans to appeal to the President as a “last resort,” urging him to veto the decree due to both its content and the expedited parliamentary process—devoid of input from the Judicial Supreme Council and the Supreme Council of Administrative and Fiscal Courts.
Later, Livre’s parliamentary leader, Isabel Mendes Lopes, initiated a similar request, aiming for the decree to be returned to the Assembly for broader discussion.
Subsequently, Chega leader André Ventura requested a meeting with the President to urge immediate promulgation of the decree, warning against possible obstruction to immigration control and national security.
PCP Secretary-General highlighted a broader agenda in a Sunday communiqué with the President, encompassing national concerns such as emergency service closures, while including the immigration regime amendments.
The alterations were consolidated in a substitute text from the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms, and Guarantees, based on proposals from the PSD/CDS-PP government and Chega’s legislative project.
The new regime stipulates that citizens from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) need a residence visa under the mobility agreement, replacing the current short-stay visa or legal entry requirement.
Per the Constitution, the President has 20 days to ratify or veto Assembly decrees and can request a Constitutional Court review within eight days of receiving the bill.
Today, IL announced that its newly elected president, Mariana Leitão, will be received by the President to outline the party’s priorities during her term.
