Portugal’s Constitutional Court Overturns Core Parts of Citizenship Bill

Overview

• The Tribunal Constitucional invalidated four provisions of the nationality overhaul, with three struck unanimously and one by majority.
• The court blocked automatic denial of citizenship for criminal sentences of two years or more, citing constitutional violations.
• Judges rejected an undefined 'manifest fraud' clause and a rule applying new standards to pending cases, underscoring legal certainty and trust protection.
• The ruling also nixed canceling nationality for vague 'behaviours' rejecting the national community because citizens could not foresee what conduct would trigger loss.
• The bill sought to tighten access by extending legal residence to 10 years for most applicants and seven for EU and CPLP nationals, prompting a PS challenge and marking the second court setback this year for the AD government.