Portugal Demands Thousands of Migrants to Leave the Country
The Portuguese interim government plans to deport nearly 18,000 foreigners residing in the country without legal documentation. This move comes as part of the government’s preparations for the early general elections scheduled for May 18.
The Portuguese television and radio reported that the Minister of the Presidency, António Lita Amaro, stated that authorities will begin issuing notifications demanding that those living there leave. He clarified that the first batch of these notifications will include around 4,500 individuals, who will be given a 20-day grace period to depart voluntarily.
This decision occurs in a politically tense context, after the minority government led by the Social Democratic Party lost its vote of confidence in Parliament last March, prompting Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to call for early elections.
The election campaign for the upcoming legislative elections, set for May 18, officially started yesterday in Portugal, amid circumstances of anticipation and uncertainty regarding the ability of competing parties, especially the Socialist Party and the right-wing alliance, to secure a majority.
Recent opinion polls have revealed that none of the competing political parties will likely achieve an absolute majority, which is necessary for forming a stable government.
