Presidential candidate Luís Marques Mendes declined on Saturday to comment on a potential candidacy by António Sampaio da Nóvoa for the Presidency of the Republic, stating that “battles over who is or isn’t a candidate do not solve the problem of any Portuguese citizen”.
“If Professor Sampaio da Nóvoa decides to present his candidacy, I will do what I do with all candidates: Greet him democratically”, he said to journalists during a visit to Monção.
In the 2016 Presidential elections, António Sampaio da Nóvoa was the runner-up, coming behind Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. At the time, without explicit support from the Socialist Party (PS), he secured 1,062,38 votes (22,88%), while the current head of state received nearly two and a half million votes (52%).
However, the former president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) stated that “more important than battles over who will or will not be a candidate” is to “talk about the country, for the country, and the people’s problems”.
“These battles over who is or isn’t a candidate do not solve the problem of any Portuguese citizen, and today the Portuguese are concerned about their lives, the cost of living, problems in Health, Education…”, he noted.
Marques Mendes reiterated that his “only concern” is focusing “on people’s problems” and asserted that “anyone running for the Presidency of the Republic should worry about the people and not political games”.
Nationality Law? Immigrants “are an opportunity, not a problem”
Regarding the Nationality Law, the presidential candidate argued that “immigration is an opportunity for Portugal” and that “immigrants are important because they help Social Security, assist companies in making investments, and help create investment”.
“They are an opportunity, not a problem. However, it needs to be regulated, controlled immigration, with doors that are not wide open. That’s why it’s necessary to make some adjustments to the immigration law, and I hope they are balanced”, he added.
It is recalled that the Government’s proposed laws and the Chega party’s bills regarding the Nationality Law and immigration have been sent to the committee stage without being voted on in general at the plenary session on Friday in the Assembly of the Republic.
The Government’s proposed changes to the nationality and immigration diplomas have been sent to the committee stage without a general vote today, as have the Chega party’s bills concerning the same matters.
Lusa | 15:35 – 04/07/2025
The Government’s proposed changes to the nationality diploma, which will now be discussed in committee, aim to increase the required period of residence in Portugal for citizenship from five to seven or ten years, depending on whether the citizens are Lusophone or non-Lusophone.
The Government also foresees the possibility of losing nationality for those naturalized for less than 10 years and sentenced to an actual prison term of five years or more for serious crimes. As for granting original nationality to descendants of foreigners residing in Portugal, legal residence for a period of three years will be required.
