In a significant move leading up to Portugal’s national elections, the current interim government, overseen by the center-right, has announced plans to expel approximately 18,000 foreign residents who are living in the nation without proper authorization. This announcement was made by António Leitão Amaro, the Minister of the Presidency, and marks a crucial point in the administration’s efforts to address immigration issues in the country.
As part of this initiative, the government plans to issue notifications to these foreign nationals, instructing them to depart from Portugal. Initial efforts will focus on a smaller group of roughly 4,500 individuals, who will be asked to voluntarily exit the country within a 20-day period starting next week.
These developments come as Portugal prepares for an unexpected general election scheduled for May 18. The election was called earlier than planned after Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s minority government, led by the Social Democratic Party, faced a confidence vote in parliament which they subsequently lost, prompting their resignation.
The backdrop to these political maneuvers includes a broader European context, where a surge in populism has been witnessed. Notably, Portugal’s own far-right party, Chega, made significant gains, securing the third position during the elections held last year. This rise reflects wider regional trends and impacts the political discourse and policies, including those related to immigration.