The leader of Chega, André Ventura, stated on Tuesday that it is “almost certain” that the President of the Republic “will send the new foreigner law to the Constitutional Court (TC)”.
“I am 99.9% sure that the President of the Republic will send the newly approved foreigner law in the Assembly of the Republic to the Constitutional Court,” he remarked after his audience with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
The Chega leader recalled that his party had requested this audience because it considered it “important and urgent” to implement new legislation on this matter.
André Ventura further noted that the President believes “there are legal security issues that need to be safeguarded, especially concerning its practical application in courts and to address issues raised by various members of civil society, specialists, non-specialists, and various entities.”
“Therefore, the almost certain referral of this diploma to the Constitutional Court for evaluation,” he emphasized.
Also on Tuesday, Livre and PCP are scheduled to meet with the head of state with the foreigner law on the agenda, and the newly elected leader of IL will present her greetings.
BE, which was the first party to request an audience with the head of state regarding changes to the legal framework for the entry, stay, exit, and expulsion of foreigners from national territory, is set to meet the President on Thursday.
BE, Livre, and PCP oppose the changes approved in plenary last Wednesday, while Chega wants the President of the Republic to urgently promulgate the parliamentary decree.
The new regime limits work-seeking visas to “qualified work”—for individuals with “specialized technical skills,” to be determined later by regulation—and restricts family reunification for immigrants, granting more rights in this matter to those with certain types of residence permits, such as “golden visas”.
According to the Constitution, the President of the Republic has twenty days to promulgate or veto any decree from the Assembly of the Republic and may request the Constitutional Court to assess the constitutionality within eight days from the receipt of the diploma.
The Assembly of the Republic’s portal indicates the decree was sent to the Belém Palace last Thursday.
[Updated at 18:35]
