The Chega party “is currently available to work with the parties that support the Government,” stated Luís Montenegro, speaking to journalists after a visit as PSD president to the ‘metrobus’ in Coimbra.
For the prime minister, “parliamentary groups should collaborate and cooperate, especially those willing to do so, to find a solution that is good for the country, regulates immigration, and ensures the ability to integrate people seeking Portugal with dignity.”
Despite the dialogue with Chega, Luís Montenegro stressed that the PSD does not “close the door to anyone.”
“This matter is currently under the responsibility of the leadership of the PSD and CDS-PP parliamentary groups, but naturally, as the coalition leader, I have no problem admitting that the door is open to all parliamentary groups, particularly those with more responsibility, such as the Socialist Party,” he said.
In this regard, the Social Democrat leader expressed satisfaction if the PS can “materialize the availability announced in welcoming proposals that – it must be understood – are not against anyone, they are for the country, for immigrants in particular, and for the Portuguese economy.”
Chega announced today that, together with the PSD, it established a group with members from both parties to negotiate changes to the immigration law, so this legislation “is ready for approval” next week.
The Assembly of the Republic will reconsider next Tuesday, in plenary, generally, in specialty, and in final global voting, the new proposals for amending the immigration law, after this decree was rejected by the Constitutional Court.
The new proposal to amend the immigration law, announced this Wednesday by the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, among other changes aimed at ensuring its compliance with the Republic’s Constitution, maintains the two-year valid residence period for requesting family reunification but admits several exceptions, including for spouses.
On August 8, the Constitutional Court deemed five norms of the parliamentary decree unconstitutional, aimed at, by government proposal, altering the so-called Immigration Law, most of which pertained to family reunification, including setting “a blind two-year period” for the request.
This decree was approved on July 16 in the Assembly of the Republic, with favorable votes from PSD, Chega, and CDS-PP, abstention from IL, and votes against PS, Livre, PCP, BE, PAN, and JPP.
