Portugal: The Chega party announced on Wednesday that it will introduce a bill to revoke Portuguese citizenship from naturalized citizens who commit serious crimes or engage in actions that incite hatred or demean the nation.
A similar proposal was submitted by Chega in 2021, when André Ventura was the party’s sole parliamentary representative. However, the Assembly of the Republic rejected it after the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms, and Guarantees deemed it unconstitutional.
Chega argues that citizenship should be revoked for crimes such as “membership in terrorist organizations,” “crimes against state security,” or any offense resulting in a prison sentence exceeding three years. The party also seeks to amend the Citizenship Law to include these provisions.
Additionally, the bill would introduce grounds for denying Portuguese citizenship based on behavior or statements that insult the dignity of the nation or its political, historical, or cultural symbols.
Beyond these measures, Chega proposes tightening the criteria for acquiring citizenship, particularly for children of foreign nationals born in Portugal. Under current law, a child automatically qualifies for Portuguese citizenship if one parent has legally resided in Portugal for at least two years. Chega’s bill would also extend the residency requirement for naturalization to six years for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries and ten years for others.
Furthermore, the party advocates for stricter naturalization requirements, including proof of a genuine connection to the Portuguese community, financial self-sufficiency, proficiency in the Portuguese language, and passing a national integration and citizenship test.
https://www.lusa.pt/national/article/2025-06-11/45135417/chega-quer-retirar-nacionalidade-a-cidad%C3%A3os-naturalizados-que-cometam-crimes-graves