Nuno Melo links school delays to immigration policy
Minister of Defence and leader of the CDS-PP, Nuno Melo, attributed recent delays in school enrolments to the previous government's immigration policies. Melo argued that the 'wide-open doors' approach under the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) created unsustainable pressure on public services, while also criticizing the Chega party for past legislative cooperation with the PS.
Nuno Melo is the leader of CDS-PP (Centro Democrático e Social – Partido Popular), a Christian democratic party on Portugal’s centre-right, and Minister of National Defence in Luís Montenegro’s government, where CDS-PP governs in coalition with the PSD. He was previously a Member of the European Parliament.
The CDS–PP is the Democratic and Social Centre – People's Party (Centro Democrático e Social – Partido Popular), a small centre-right, Christian-democratic party founded in 1974. It often partners with the larger PSD in parliament; in February 2026 it voted with the PSD and IL to approve a housing package, so its parliamentary support can influence housing and other policy outcomes.
