The amendment to the nationality law was announced by the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, during a press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting.
The minister argued that this loss of nationality can only be imposed as an “accessory sanction, always decreed by a judge” and for crimes of high severity.
“Not just in theory, but in concrete cases where the criminal judge has decreed an effective prison sentence of five years or more, for a range of crimes including crimes against the state – such as espionage, terrorism, treason – and also serious crimes against individuals,” he stated, citing examples like “homicide, rape, very serious assaults on physical integrity, situations of extreme violence and aggression against individuals and their freedom within national territory.”
A government source informed Lusa that this accessory sanction will only be included in the nationality law and will not require changes to the Penal Code.
The date considered for this sanction will be the criminal act rather than the judicial conviction, added the same source.
[Updated at 19:08]
