The Portuguese government, led by the centre-right coalition led by Luís Montenegro, announced on 23 June a decree exacerbating the rules on naturalisation. The fresh regulations increase the minimum period of legal residence needed to apply for citizenship from 5 to 10 years, but for Portuguese-speaking nationals who will be able to apply after 7 years.
In addition, the Portuguese language and culture test, the demonstration of a "deeper degree of integration" and the declaration of support for the principles of democracy, and the anticipation of naturalised citizenship being lost if they commit serious crimes. The decree, although not yet voted in the parliament, received clear support from the CHEGA party, which in fresh elections became the main opposition force
In the first weeks after the election, the CHEGA organization exerted strong force on the government, calling for a drastic tightening of migration policy. On 11 June, CHEGA submitted its own draft amendment to the Citizenship Act in Parliament. The proposal by the leader André Ventura provided for an extension of the period of residence for children of foreigners born in Portugal – from the erstwhile year to six years for parents from the Portuguese Language Community (CPLP) countries and up to 10 years for others – and akin restrictions for adult applicants: six years for citizens of CPLP and 10 years for others. The task besides required the conviction “National Integration and Citizenship Test”, “unfailing citizenship” and the ability to stand on its own. In addition, CHEGA proposed that citizenship be taken from those who "publicly humiliate the nation", "behaving offensive to national symbols" or participating in terrorist organisations.
Following the legislative initiative, the organization organised a social run against the reagroupmento acquainted – the right of foreigners to bring families. In consequence to an online petition that had collected over 27,800 signatures in a fewer days, CHEGA officially supported the suspension of this right for 8 years as a ‘interim measure’ until legalisation procedures were in order. MP Rita Maria Matias called on the X platform (formerly Twitter) to support the proposal, while the president of CHEGA announced the submission of a request to suspend the reagroupmento in parliament, highlighting the alleged "lack of control" over the influx of foreigners.
CHEGA has not limited itself to legislative proposals and digital shares. On 23 June, before the vote of the government decree, André Ventura initiated an urgent mode of debate in Parliament on "chaos in granting citizenship" and the request to limit the reagroupmento family. In his speech, the party's leader accused the ruling socialists of "replacing nationality for goods at the supermarket" and criticized the liquidation of the erstwhile SEF border defender for AIMA, recognizing this as "opening the door to anyone who wants to come". The minister liable for the interior administration Antonio Leitão Amaro came to admit that CHEGA had led to changes. He then asked this group to support the decree, which yet allowed the government to warrant the majority needed to enact tightened rules.
This coordinated action of CHEGA – from the legislative background, through social media activity to parliamentary force – has made it a fact to tighten up the naturalization conditions. At the same time, public opinion and any legal groups raised voices about the possible unconstitutionality of certain provisions, peculiarly concerning the automatic removal of citizenship, indicating that the debate on the final wording of the law has not yet come to an end.
