Constitutional Court Rejects Foreigners' Law Amid Controversy

The Constitutional Court has identified unconstitutional aspects in the foreigners' law, following a preventive review requested by the President of the Republic. The decision was announced after Judge Joana Fernandes Costa presented the findings in the Public Acts Room.

Key Points:

• The Court found several norms within the law to be unconstitutional.
• President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had requested an urgent review, which was completed within the 15-day deadline.
• The law was initially approved by the Assembly of the Republic on July 16, with support from PSD, Chega, and CDS-PP, but faced criticism for lacking input from immigrant associations and constitutional experts.

Background: The law's approval process was contentious, with accusations of procedural shortcomings and the absence of mandatory consultations. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between legislative efficiency and constitutional compliance in Portugal's immigration policy.