The president of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, expressed reservations about a bill from the Chega party that aims to give priority to Portuguese children or children from European Union countries in accessing public schools. The politician admitted that the proposal can be discussed in parliament, but warned of constitutionality problems.
Aguiar-Branco stated that there are "relevant constitutional reservations" regarding this initiative, mainly regarding the equality principle enshrined in the Portuguese Constitution. The president of the assembly stressed that the fundamental law establishes principles that may be incompatible with the discrimination proposed by Chega.
The far-right party Chega has been presenting proposals related to limiting the rights of immigrants and their descendants in Portugal. This project is part of a broader strategy by the party to restrict foreigners' access to essential public services.
Aguiar-Branco's position comes at a time when the issue of immigration and access to public services continues to generate political debate in Portugal, with Chega positioning itself as a party critical of migration and integration policies.
