Parliament rejected proposals from both Chega and BE on immigration issues, with similar voting outcomes on bills aimed at facilitating voluntary return of immigrants to their countries of origin, except for IL, which abstained.
The Assembly of the Republic on Wednesday rejected all initiatives from Chega and BE concerning immigration. PSD and CDS-PP abstained on proposals related to social support limitations and facilitating return to the country of origin.
Chega brought four bills to debate and stood alone in voting in favor of all initiatives. In two bills, all other parties voted against, including one proposing quotas based on labor market needs and expulsion of foreign citizens convicted of “intentional crime with a sentence exceeding six months in prison,” and a resolution recommending the Government suspend new residence permits until pending ones are processed.
Also rejected was a bill restricting social support to foreigners in Portugal for more than five years, with votes against from PS, IL, BE, PCP, Livre, and PAN, abstention from PSD and CDS-PP, and Chega in favor.
A bill limiting the number of residence permits issued per dwelling also failed with a similar voting pattern.
Similarly, a bill aimed at facilitating voluntary return of immigrants to their countries of origin saw the same voting outcome, except for IL, which abstained.
BE had two proposals, one a bill and the other a resolution, both of which were rejected.
A bill aiming to reintroduce residence permit procedures based on expressions of interest, overturning a recent government decree, was rejected with votes against from PSD, Chega, IL, and CDS-PP, abstention from PS, and support from other parties.
A resolution to increase human resources at the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) over the next two months was rejected with votes against from PSD, CDS-PP, and Chega, abstention from IL, and support from other parties.