Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has asked the Constitutional Court to rule on the legality of the country’s immigration law, passed by parliament with the support of the Chega. The law strengthens immigration controls and protects national interests.
The president said in a statement late on Thursday, July 24th, that the law–part of a Europe-wide pattern of tightening immigration rules–violated “the principles of equality and non-discrimination.”
He said he had asked the court to issue an “urgent” opinion “within two weeks.” The court has the power to return the law to parliament and ask for non-constitutional elements to be rewritten.
The right-wing, anti-illegal migration Chega party condemned the president’s move, while leftist parties applauded it.
