Santarem, Portugal, July 17, 2025 (Lusa) - Portugal's president has said that he would approve the new immigration law if it strikes a balance between ending the "unsustainable situation" that existed and not "going to the other extreme," given that Portugal needs immigrants.
Speaking on Wednesday evening, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stressed that if the immigration law approved in Parliament (on Wednesday) respects the Constitution, he will examine its political content.
"The question that follows is: does this law strike a balance between ending the unsustainable situation that existed and falling into the other extreme, is it a balance between eighty and eight, (...) is it a law that looks at reality (...) and recognises that the economy in some circumstances needs immigrants," said the Portuguese head of state, speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the diocese of Santarém.
"If I find that there is a general balance and there are no details that make a negative political impression, I will sign it," he stressed.
If he has doubts "on some aspects of the content," the president said he will return the law to parliament.
In response to the law's approval, the leader of the Left Bloc, Mariana Mortágua, and the parliamentary leader of Livre, Isabel Mendes Lopes, announced that they will request a meeting with the president to express their opposition to the text.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stressed that he is not familiar with the version that was voted on in Parliament, noting that it underwent changes at the end, but said he is available to receive "the parties that want to be received, whether they are from the left or the right."
The amendments to the legal regime governing the entry, stay, departure and removal of foreigners from national territory were approved on Wednesday in Parliament in a final overall vote, with the votes of the PSD, Chega and CDS, and much criticism of the lack of mandatory consultations and the Government's haste, which led to the abstention of the IL.
At issue is the absence of mandatory consultations and hearings with immigrant associations and constitutional experts, as requested by the opposition parties.
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