Portugal: government aims to restrict family reunification
After elections in May, the new Portuguese government led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has presented its programme in parliament. Immigration - and particularly the Conservatives' plan to heavily restrict family reunification regulations for immigrants - dominated the debate. The national press criticises both the proposal and the focus on the issue.
Children promote integration
Rather than putting up obstacles, Portugal should give preference to immigrants with families, Expresso writes:
“The government has got off to a bad start: it is introducing immigration measures that contradict the available data and even common sense. ... Immigrants need to build their communities around their families, meaning that family reunification is fundamental for integration. We could even select immigrants on that basis. Those who bring their families should be given prioritiy, because the family will force integration, especially when we think of school and the children.”
Immigration issue politically overrated
Carefully considered immigration rules are needed, but the Portuguese have more pressing concerns, writes Correio da Manhã:
“It's clear that the issue of immigration has become central to people's lives. This was always inevitable given that more than a million people have come to Portugal in the biggest wave of migration in our history, even bigger than when the Portuguese returned from the former colonies after 25 April [1974]. But despite the current focus on this matter it is by no means the only issue the Portuguese are worried about. Health and housing are higher than immigration on the list of voters' biggest concerns.”