The requests submitted by the Government and the Chega party were included in the updated voting guide provided in the morning. These were not part of the first version on Thursday and were approved in plenary, with votes against from BE and PCP.
BE also requested a postponement without voting on its proposed changes to the nationality law, but the request was rejected, as was the bill itself, with votes against from PSD, Chega, PS, IL, and CDS-PP and abstentions from PCP and JPP.
The Government’s proposed amendment to the nationality law, which will now be discussed in committee, aims to increase the residency period required in Portugal for citizenship (from five to 7 or 10 years, depending on whether they are Portuguese-speaking citizens or not).
The Government also envisages the possibility of losing nationality for those naturalized for less than 10 years and sentenced to a prison term of five years or more for serious crimes. For the granting of original nationality to descendants of foreign residents in Portugal, legal residency for a period of three years will now be required.
The Chega’s bill, which also moved to the specialty phase, proposes “the loss of nationality acquired by naturalization or when they have dual nationality, in cases where the individual commits acts that seriously undermine sovereignty, national security, or the essential principles of the Rule of Law.”
The BE’s bill, which was rejected, took a contrary stance to the Government and Chega, advocating for “full recognition of nationality to all individuals born on national territory.”
In terms of foreign citizens law, the Government intends to restrict job search visas “to highly qualified activities,” limit access to family reunification, and alter the conditions for granting residence permits to nationals of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) Member States.
Meanwhile, Chega introduces a bill that “restricts the rules regarding entry and stay in national territory,” imposing quotas for entry based on labor needs identified by the authorities.
Votes were also held on initiatives by BE and PAN concerning the legal regime of foreigners, all of which were rejected, along with a Chega resolution.
BE sought to eliminate ‘golden visas’, while PAN aimed to ensure the integration of foreign citizens and create a pilot project for alternative measures to detention. Chega recommended to the Government the suspension of family reunification.
[Updated at 15:51]
