The bill, which aimed to amend the Code of Procedure in Administrative Courts, was rejected with votes against from PSD, Chega, Livre, PCP, CDS-PP and BE, abstentions from PS, PAN and JPP, and a vote in favour from IL.

Cases related to AIMA are injunctions for the protection of freedoms and guarantees filed by foreign citizens, including to compel the agency to schedule an interview as part of the residency process, and are exclusive to the TACL.

Pending cases

In January, there were 124,000 of these pending cases, according to the Superior Council of Administrative and Tax Courts (CSTAF), when announcing a temporary reinforcement of 50 judges to help resolve cases.

The IL’s bill received an unfavourable opinion from the CSTAF, because, among other reasons, it does not resolve the TACL issue and could extend the problem of pending AIMA cases to the remaining courts in the country.

In the plenary discussion of the bill on Thursday, 26 February, most of the parties opposing the proposal invoked this argument.

A bill from PAN and two draft resolutions (recommendations) from Chega and Livre on AIMA and administrative and tax justice were also rejected.