Immigrants are eagerly awaiting the Constitutional Court's (TC) ruling on changes to the Foreigners' Law. The decision could be announced this Thursday, August 7th, or this Friday, August 8th, the deadline set by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. On July 24th, the head of state requested a response within 15 days.
The case is being handled by Judge Joana Maria Rebelo Fernandes Costa, a career judge sworn in in 2016 who is nearing the end of her term at the court . This is expected to be the judge's last major ruling before she leaves office, which is scheduled for this August, when the court is on judicial vacation.
The judge's role is to assess whether the changes to the law are consistent with the Portuguese Constitution. Marcelo requested an analysis of the changes to family reunification and the limitations on access to legal proceedings.
Another argument for sending it to the TC is that the changes were all approved in 16 working days , with no need for opinions or even setting a one-day deadline for issuing an opinion, as happened with the Superior Council of Administrative and Tax Courts (CSTAF), which criticized the short time to pronounce on the law .
Last Sunday, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa commented on the possibilities he will have after receiving the results from Palácio Ratton . "Regarding the political debate, I will think about it immediately. I will consider whether or not it is worthwhile, for the sake of personal affirmation, to put a political obstacle to the law for three weeks, or for 15 days, knowing that it will be approved the next time the mail arrives. Or if it is not possible to do the same in another way, which is to say 'I promulgate it, but I disagree politically,'" the President explained.