The PSD has agreed to initiate a period of hearings, to conclude by the end of the third week of September, before the committee and final global vote on the government’s proposed amendments to the nationality law. This was announced by the Social Democrat deputy António Rodrigues during a meeting of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs.
However, Rodrigues also warned that he would not accept an excessively prolonged hearing period that could delay the final global vote on the executive’s bill to a period after the conclusion of the legislative process regarding the State Budget for 2026, potentially pushing it into December.
Last Friday, the government’s proposed amendment to the nationality law proceeded to the committee stage without a general vote, along with a legislative proposal from Chega on the same subject.
The government’s proposal aims to extend the residency requirement for obtaining citizenship in Portugal from five to 7 or 10 years, depending on whether the individuals are Lusophone or non-Lusophone citizens.
Additionally, the government envisions the possibility of revoking nationality for those naturalized within the last 10 years if they are sentenced to five or more years of imprisonment for serious crimes. As for granting original nationality to descendants of foreign residents in Portugal, they would now be required to have legal residency for three years.
The government’s proposed revision of the nationality law has raised constitutional concerns, particularly among left-wing parliamentary parties, especially regarding the possibility of losing nationality upon naturalization through judicial decision in the event of a criminal conviction.
During a debate on the government’s proposal for revising the nationality law last Friday, the most critical intervention came from the Socialist leader Pedro Delgado Alves.
“The government’s proposal for nationality revocation is disproportionate. It creates two categories of citizens: those on a probationary period and those with full rights,” he stated.
According to the deputy of the PS Parliamentary Group, the government’s bill violates the Constitution concerning “retroactivity,” as individuals who currently meet the requirements to request nationality would be unable to do so, violating the principle of trust protection.
A proposal by Chega to amend the nationality law received an opinion from the Assembly of the Republic services indicating its unconstitutionality.
Despite these concerns, the president of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, allowed the discussion of the bill, hoping that any inconsistencies with the Fundamental Law could be rectified during the legislative process.
In Gaia on Tuesday, the president of the Assembly extended his warnings to the executive’s bill, expressing hope for reflection on the potential constitutional risks of the government’s proposed amendment to the nationality law, particularly concerning the retroactive effects of the measure, during the committee discussions.
