Government expresses openness to Chega's proposals but reminds Ventura of the limits of the Constitution

The Minister of the Presidency showed openness to a common path with Chega in the process of approving the nationality law, this Friday in Parliament.

André Ventura had previously pointed out that Leitão Amaro had used a Chega “slogan” in his speech: “For Portugal, for the Portuguese”, to defend changes to the nationality law.

“Times have changed, because the Portuguese wanted change in the last elections”, commented the Chega leader.

André Ventura made it known that the party had, however, some demands to include in the new diploma on the nationality law: Knowledge of the Portuguese language; an increase in the current ten-year limit for the loss of nationality when obtained through naturalization; and automatic loss of nationality in cases of serious crimes.

The Minister of the Presidency simply said he was convinced that “there is a way for parliament to approve measures”, but stressed that “the line that cannot be crossed is that of the Constitution”.

“None of us can make an unconstitutional law. This means not being able to have life sentences, including loss of nationality, nor automatic losses that violate the Constitution,” he stressed.

Shortly afterwards, the Minister of the Presidency asked the deputies, in the name of consensus, that the proposed laws to amend the nationality and immigration diplomas be lowered to the specialist stage without being voted on today in general terms.