It was an important day for the Government, marking what it called the end of “a period of irresponsible immigration policy” installed under the leadership of Antonio Costa’s Social Party (PS) government.
After being struck down by the Constitutional Court, the new Immigration Law was approved this Tuesday with the support of MPs from the PSD, CDS-PP, Chega, Iniciativa Liberal and the sole deputy from the regional Madeiran party Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP). The PS, Livre, PCP, Left Bloc and PAN voted against the proposal.
The bill now heads back to the Palácio de Belém, where President Marcelo can use his executive power to either pass or veto the proposal. Despite voting against, the PS managed to secure one amendment to the final text, while the far-right Chega party succeeded with three. However, all of the Socialist Party’s own proposals for the law were rejected.
During the debate, the Minister for the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, praised the “three largest opposition parties” for their “constructive approaches” to the discussions. Chega, he said, had shown “a balancing effort,” as had IL and the PS — even if the Socialists ultimately opposed the law. The Government insisted that the legislation was “irrefutable for any moderate and sensible party.”
For Portugal, Leitão Amaro argued, this was a “decisive and fundamental day.” He recalled that the Government had inherited a “worrying situation”: “It had to change and it is changing. We are taking a decisive step to regulate immigration and to manage and integrate with humanity.” Millions had entered Portugal, he said, without being received with “humanity,” creating problems for social cohesion. “That era of irresponsible immigration policy is over.”
Chega’s Cristina Rodrigues described the bill as “sufficient,” signalling her party’s support, but warned that Chega “wants to go further” to “properly regulate migration policy.” She welcomed the Government’s acceptance of tighter rules and recognition of “abuses in the granting of social benefits that must be tackled.” She stressed, however, that for Chega, “those who have not contributed to the Portuguese state should not receive any support.”
Chega’s message was that while it backed the law, Portugal still needed “clear, firm and fair rules,” even invoking the controversial concept of “remigration.” Deputy Rita Matias later reinforced this line, suggesting those who “do not integrate” should be expelled.
The PS, frequently accused by right-wing parties of pursuing a “wide open doors” policy whilst in power, argued that the Government had only partially addressed the constitutional concerns raised by the court. Socialist MP Pedro Delgado Alves admitted that some issues had been “satisfactorily resolved,” but insisted the Executive “could have gone further,” justifying the party’s decision to vote against. The PS says it wants legislation that ensures “safe, legal and orderly immigration,” while promoting “humanism” in integration and meeting the needs of the economy, particularly sectors reliant on foreign labour.
For Iniciativa Liberal, Rui Rocha confirmed his party’s support for the government-backed proposals, though not without criticism: “Too much time has been lost on this issue.” He underlined IL’s position: “Those who work and comply may stay. Those who stay longer and embrace the foundational principles of our society may aspire to nationality.” Rocha argued that “multiculturalism does not and will not work” because “cultures and values are not the same.” He also criticised the left for “defending borderlessness,” calling them “naïve, disingenuous, embittered and orthodox.” Even so, he said, the PS did not fit these categories, describing its stance as “pragmatic but wrong, with serious consequences” for maintaining a low-wage economy.
On the left of the PS, opposition was fierce. Livre’s Paulo Muacho said immigration could be an opportunity for a “depopulated country” and a reminder of Portugal’s own migration history to more well-earning countries within the EU.. Instead, he argued, the debate had become “political opportunism” — exploited both by Chega, “which promotes hate and division,” and by the Prime Minister, who, despite earlier denials, had “struck a deal behind closed doors with the far right.”
The PCP’s parliamentary leader, Paula Santos, attacked both the Government and Chega, but also turned her fire on the Socialists, accusing them of trying to present themselves as “chosen custodians of legislation that attacks migrant workers.” She denounced restrictions on family reunification as “inhumane,” warning that long-term residents risk losing their permits.
From the Left Bloc, deputy Andreia Galvão, standing in for Mariana Mortágua, currently aboard a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza, branded the law “cruel.” She acknowledged problems in the system but argued that the model is “based on inequality,” using migrant labour “to depress wages for all and exploit migrants themselves.”
The battle over Portugal’s Immigration Law has thus left the country starkly divided: the centre-right and far right hailing a turning point in migration policy, while the left warns of inhumanity, lost opportunity, and a dangerous shift towards exclusion.
