The Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) and CDS-PP have submitted new proposals to amend the Nationality Law (Lei da Nacionalidade) following a rejection by the Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional). The revised text maintains the loss of nationality (perda de nacionalidade) as a penalty for certain crimes but reduces the number of applicable offenses and raises the required sentence length. Chega leader André Ventura stated his party will not support the measure, accusing the government of being too similar to the socialists.
PSD proposes revised nationality law to meet court requirements
Monday, 30 March 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
The Social Democratic Party ('Partido Social Democrata' or 'PSD') is a liberal-conservative political party in Portugal that is the leading partner of the The Democratic Alliance (AD) which is the country's ruling party, with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
The Social Democratic Party, despite its name, occupies the centre-right of Portugal's political spectrum. Luís Montenegro, who became Prime Minister in April 2024, leads Portugal's current minority government. The PSD has been one of Portugal's two dominant parties since 1974, having formed nine governments including four with absolute majorities. Montenegro, a former party leader from 1996-1999, was elected with the highest approval rating among party leaders at 10.7 points out of 20.
The Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition that includes the smaller CDS – People's Party, a Christian democratic party that has historically been the PSD's coalition partner. Together, they govern without a parliamentary majority, requiring case-by-case support from opposition parties to pass legislation.
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.
André Ventura, born January 15, 1983, is a lawyer, academic, and Portugal's most prominent far-right leader. He founded Chega ("Enough") in 2019 after his PSD mayoral campaign attacked the Romani community. Chega surged from 1.3% in 2019 to 22.8% in May 2025, becoming parliament's second-largest party and making Ventura Leader of the Opposition.
His platform emphasizes immigration restrictions, law-and-order policies, constitutional reform, and contains inflammatory anti-Romani rhetoric that has triggered multiple discrimination convictions and investigations. Politically classified as far-right by international media, Ventura cultivates alliances with European far-right figures including Marine Le Pen and Santiago Abascal.
He announced his 2026 presidential candidacy, polling at 18% alongside independent Admiral Gouveia e Melo. His rise ended Portugal's 50-year resistance to far-right parties.
Sources (6)
- PSD has no prior agreement with Chega and expects the "maximum possible consensus" to overcome unconstitutionalities in the Nationality LawExpresso · 4:40pm, 30 Mar 2026
- Loss of nationality remains. AD presented a new proposal and expects the "maximum possible consensus"RTP Notícias · 7:18pm, 30 Mar 2026
- PSD/CDS-PP maintain accessory penalty of loss of nationality but for fewer crimesECO · 5:59pm, 30 Mar 2026
- PSD hopes to overcome Constitutional Court rejection of nationality law 'with the greatest possible consensus'CNN Portugal · 5:51pm, 30 Mar 2026
- Chega says there is no agreement on nationality and accuses PSD of being no less socialist than PSCorreio da Manhã · 6:00pm, 30 Mar 2026
- Nationality Law: new PSD proposal maintains loss of nationalityPúblico · 4:51pm, 30 Mar 2026
