The party submitted proposals to parliament to amend the decrees of the Assembly of the Republic, seeking to amend the Penal Code to create the additional penalty of loss of nationality and to revise the Nationality Law, legislation that was vetoed by the President following its rejection by the Constitutional Court (TC).

With regard to the reacquisition of nationality, Chega’s proposed amendment (available on the parliament’s website) stipulates that this may only occur between 10 and 15 years after the final judgement of most crimes carrying this penalty, and between 15 and 25 years for crimes against sexual freedom and self-determination, criminal association and aiding illegal immigration.

Impediment to obtaining nationality

Among the requirements that constitute an impediment to obtaining nationality, the party led by André Ventura wants to require prison sentences of three years or more for crimes punishable under Portuguese law (in the first version, this was two years).

Chega also wants anyone applying for Portuguese nationality, in addition to having the “ability to support themselves”, not to be a recipient of “social benefits during the period of residence”.

Loss of nationality

With regard to the loss of nationality as an additional penalty, Chega proposes that this sanction should apply to persons sentenced to a custodial sentence of at least five years (the original version stated four years) for “crimes committed within 15 years of the date on which the effects of obtaining nationality took effect” (the previous version stipulated 10 years).

The party led by André Ventura also proposes including criminal association in the list of offences that may lead to loss of nationality, “where the perpetrator is the head or leader of the association”, as well as arms trafficking and brokering, whilst retaining drug trafficking.

No agreement reached

The leader of Chega revealed that it had not been possible to reach an agreement on the nationality law and accused the PSD of failing to “be less socialist than the socialists”.

“It has not been possible, as things stand, to reach an agreement with other parties in parliament to produce a comprehensive, viable bill capable of being passed,” announced André Ventura at a press conference in Lisbon, after the PSD and CDS-PP had submitted proposals to amend the decrees on the nationality law, which they hope to see approved “with the greatest possible consensus”.

At that point, the Chega leader indicated that the party would put forward proposed amendments, but did not elaborate on them.