The President had indicated that he would send the legislation back to the Constitutional Court, but this Thursday he ended up giving the green light to the law that regulates the entry, exit and removal of foreigners.
The President of the Republic has promulgated the legislation approving the new regime governing the entry, stay, departure and removal of foreigners from the national territory, one day after indicating that he would send the legislation back to the Constitutional Court.
“Considering that the diploma now revised and approved by 70% of the Deputies corresponds minimally to the essence of the doubts of unconstitutionality raised by the President of the Republic and confirmed by the Constitutional Court, the President of the Republic promulgated the diploma of the Assembly of the Republic that amends Law No. 23/2007, of July 4, which approves the legal regime for the entry, stay, exit and removal of foreigners from the national territory”, explains the note published this Thursday on the website of the Presidency of the Republic.
In July, Marcelo sent the first draft of the law to the Constitutional Court, which in August declared five provisions, mostly related to family reunification, unconstitutional. On September 30, a new version was approved, with votes in favor from the entire right wing (including the IL) and the JPP, and votes against from the PS, Livre, PCP, BE, and PAN. The final version only reached Belém last week.
On Wednesday, speaking to journalists in Sesimbra, the President did not reveal what would be done with the diploma, but indicated that he would send it back to the Constitutional Court.
"I already have the decision in mind, but I'll announce it on the 16th," he stated, implying that the solution would be to send the case to the Constitutional Court, whose deadline was this Thursday. "I'll meet the deadline, which allows me to see what my inclination is," he reinforced.
The President has 20 days to decide whether to enact or veto the bill, but only eight days to request review by the Constitutional Court. Thus, by stating that he would meet the 16th deadline, it was implied that he was referring to the deadline for sending the bill to the Ratton Palace, which ultimately did not happen. The new Foreigners Law was eventually enacted this Thursday.