This afternoon, the president of Chega stated that he would meet with the Prime Minister on Thursday, expressing hope for reaching an agreement on changes to nationality and immigration legislation, as well as a reduction in IRS, which will be debated and voted on in parliament on Friday.
The Prime Minister’s office confirmed the meeting between Montenegro and Ventura, noting that it was requested by the president of Chega.
This afternoon, ministers from the Presidency and Parliamentary Affairs met with Chega and IL in parliament to discuss the executive’s bills intended to amend nationality law and the legal regime for foreign citizens in Portugal. They have a scheduled meeting with PS for Thursday at 08:45.
At the end of today’s meetings, neither party representatives nor government officials made statements to the media.
On Friday, the government’s proposals to amend the nationality law, the legal regime for entry, stay, exit, and removal of foreigners from national territory, and the bill to establish the National Unit of Foreigners and Borders within the Public Security Police will be debated and voted on in general in the Assembly of the Republic. This unit was previously rejected in the last legislative term.
During the first Council of Ministers of the 25th Government in full functions, the second under Luís Montenegro, the executive approved a proposal to amend the nationality legislation, which increases the required period of residence in Portugal for obtaining citizenship to seven or ten years, depending on whether the individuals are from Lusophone or non-Lusophone countries.
The government also foresees the possibility of revoking nationality for naturalized citizens who have resided for less than ten years and receive a prison sentence of five years or more for serious crimes. Additionally, for granting original nationality to descendants of foreign residents in Portugal, there is now a requirement for legal residence for three years.
Regarding the foreigner’s law, the government aims to restrict work-seeking visas to “highly qualified activities,” limit access to family reunification, and change conditions for granting residence permits to nationals from members of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).
The government also resumes a proposal previously rejected to create the National Unit of Foreigners and Borders in the Public Security Police (PSP), responsible for airport border control, returns, and the monitoring of foreigners in national territory.
The IL has already expressed agreement with most of the proposals, while Chega and PS advocate for amendments to the government’s bills—though in opposing directions—to make them viable.
According to the Constitution, the form of organic law regulates the “acquisition, loss, and reacquisition of Portuguese citizenship.” Therefore, any change to the nationality law requires, in the final global vote, approval by an absolute majority of sitting deputies, meaning 116 votes. This will require support from either the PS or Chega benches (alongside PSD and CDS-PP, which total 91 deputies).
