This Monday, President Chegi welcomed the government’s “closerness” to his party’s position on immigration, but warned that he would only approve the package if it limited the provision of social support.
Speaking to journalists during the campaign for the European elections in Algeirão Mem Martins, Sintra, district of Lisbon, Andre Ventura said that the government was “preparing to announce that no one will ever enter Portugal without a work visa” and considered that this is Chegi’s “great victory” which is “late.”
“If the government has taken this approach to Chegi’s position, I think this can only be welcomed,” he said.
Chegi’s leader said the party had submitted three proposals to the Assembly of the Republic, wanting to limit the number of people living in each house, “speed up the repatriation” of immigrants who “want to voluntarily return to their country” and limit access to supportive social benefits for those who lived in Portugal for at least five years.
Pointing out that this latest measure would be “a very important issue for discussion with the government,” Andre Ventura said Chega’s vote depended on the government’s inclusion of the proposal.
“As the PS has already stated that it will vote against such measures, the approval of this government package in parliament will depend on the government accepting our proposal to limit residence to five years for receiving new social benefits,” he said.
Andre Ventura also said that he had instructed the parliamentary leader of Chegi to propose to the parties supporting the government, SDS and SDS-PP, a constitution for a “permanent working group” in order to be able to achieve “after some time a complete and closed package, which must be approved in parliament by an absolute majority of the measure to restrict immigration.”
The Chegi leader said that if this proposal for support is accepted, “the conditions will be there to have in a few days in Portugal a big anti-immigration package, a big immigration package that could even become a source of inspiration for Europe.” , so the government is ready to start this group of negotiations.”
However, he did not specify what the party would do if the government did not agree to include the measure, saying only that “if he does not add it, then he is being reckless.”
Chegi’s leader said there was “no risk of unconstitutionality” of the measure and cited the example of Germany, which is “limited to social support for immigrants” and “has a Constitution very similar” to Portugal.
“It was inspired by the Portuguese Constitution, and if it is allowed there, it will be allowed here, unless we are much smarter than others,” he added.
Ventura reacted even before the government unveiled its migration plan, scheduled for this afternoon, with stricter rules, a strategy to attract skilled workers and differentiated treatment for Portuguese speakers.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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