A proposed law amending nationality rules is under urgent consideration by the Government in parliament, with expectations from PSD and CDS-PP for a committee conclusion by September 28.
In today’s meeting of the Constitutional Affairs Committee, without opposition, PSD-proposed consultations with a set of constitutional law experts were approved. Notably invited are professors Rui Medeiros, Jónatas Machado, Paulo Otero, Jorge Bacelar Gouveia, Catarina Santos Botelho, and Miguel Nogueira de Brito.
Chega and BE also proposed consultations with professors Blanco de Morais and Catarina Reis Oliveira, respectively.
However, PSD, Chega, CDS, and Iniciativa Liberal voted against and thus rejected requests from PCP and PS to consult organizations with relevant expertise in nationality law matters.
PS suggested consulting associations such as Iniciativa Consenso Imigração, Associação Solidariedade Imigrante, Casa do Brasil, Associação Cabo-verdiana de Lisboa, Associação Guineense de Solidariedade Social, Associação dos Ucranianos em Portugal, Casa da Índia, Associação de Angolanos do Concelho do Seixal, Associação da Comunidade de São Tomé e Príncipe, and NIALP Lisboa — Associação Intercultural.
Following the disapproval of this request, PS deputy Pedro Delgado Alves expressed “surprise” and accused PSD, Chega, and CDS of a lack of interest in these associations’ perspectives.
“We regret the adopted procedure for the foreigner’s law, which is being submitted to a lightning global final vote today. In the case of the nationality law, there was time until September to receive these associations’ input. The PSD, CDS, and Chega’s apprehension is unclear,” he said.
PCP leader Paula Santos echoed this view, arguing that these associations’ opinions would enhance legislative deliberation, but PSD, CDS, and Chega reject these contributions.
CDS deputy João Almeida countered that excluding these associations was not the intention, suggesting they can contribute voluntarily, without the Constitutional Affairs Committee having an obligation.
João Almeida also clarified that this concerns a revision of the nationality law, not the foreigner’s law.
Likewise, PSD deputy Paulo Marcelo noted the challenge in setting criteria for soliciting written opinions from immigrant representative associations, hence the focus on experts while not excluding associations entirely.
Chega deputy Madalena Cordeiro caused dissent by declaring the debate on immigrant associations’ roles in the nationality law revision “exhausted” and accused PS of false representation.
Former Liberal Initiative leader Rui Rocha sided with PSD and CDS, emphasizing the focus should be on experts, deeming it “more appropriate” to avoid broad criteria when requesting written opinions from entities.
