Andre Ventura: Chega Leader says Portugal's New Immigration Policy is "Weak" & "Ineffective"

On Monday, Portugal announced a new immigration plan set to impose stricter regulations, aligning with similar moves by other EU countries. The announcement came just days before European elections that are expected to shift the bloc’s politics to the right.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro stated, “We need people in Portugal willing to help us build a fairer and more prosperous society. But we cannot go to the other extreme and have wide-open doors.”

The government plans to eliminate the “manifestation of interest” mechanism, which has allowed non-EU migrants without employment contracts to move to Portugal and request residency after paying social security for a year.

With the termination of this mechanism, already approved by the president, migrants will now need an employment contract before relocating to Portugal.

The government will prioritise the entry of qualified professionals, students, individuals from Portuguese-speaking nations, and those seeking family reunification, although it did not specify what qualifications are required.

Montenegro highlighted that there are currently around 400,000 pending regularization processes, an issue the government aims to address by forming a task force, restructuring the newly established migration and border agency, and increasing staffing levels.

This plan reflects the broader rightward shift in European politics as governments adopt tougher immigration stances to counter the rise of far-right parties.

The far-right is gaining ground in Portugal, following the March general election won by the right-leaning Democratic Alliance (AD) by a slim margin. The AD, which governs without a majority, requires support from the far-right party Chega or the centre-left Socialists to pass legislation.

Chega, an anti-immigration populist party, is now the third-largest political force in Portugal, having quadrupled its parliamentary seats to 50. Chega’s leader, Andre Ventura, criticised the new immigration plan, calling it “weak” and “ineffective,” and argued that it did not go far enough.

Far-right and conservative parties are expected to make significant gains in this week’s European Parliament elections, potentially shifting EU policies towards a tougher stance on law enforcement and border security.

Portugal is home to approximately 800,000 migrants, nearly double the number from a decade ago.

Migrants represent around 14% of taxpayers, contributing over 1.6 billion euros to the economy in 2022, while receiving about 257 million euros in social benefits.

Despite their significant contributions, migrants often occupy precarious jobs with lower salaries, according to the Migration Observatory. The observatory’s 2023 report indicated that some sectors would collapse without foreign workers.

Under the previous Socialist government, which was in power for eight years from 2015, Portugal had one of Europe’s most open migration regimes. However, migrants have long faced severe delays in obtaining residency and other documents, impacting their ability to secure housing and employment.

Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos warned that ending the “manifestation of interest” mechanism could create problems for those arriving without a work visa, potentially leaving them in “inhumane situations with no way out.”

He emphasised the potential humanitarian consequences of the new policy.

In summary, Portugal’s new immigration plan signifies a tougher approach, reflecting broader European trends.

While it aims to manage immigration more effectively, concerns persist about its impact on migrants and its alignment with the rising influence of far-right politics in the country.

Main Image: By Duke of Winterfell – Own work, GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=122975175