Latest news with #Chega
The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
How Europe is cracking down on migrants with deportations in DAYS while soft-touch Starmer lets 50,000 cross channel
AS 50,000 migrants have poured into Britain in small boats, European nations are cracking down and securing their own borders. With public anger growing over soaring entries to their nations, more leaders are taking a harsher stance on migration - and dishing out swift deportations. Advertisement 12 Migrants onboard a boat during a rescue operation, before their boat capsized on the open sea, off Greece, June 14, 2023 Credit: Reuters 12 Migrant workers arrive for the morning shift at the Fincantieri ship yards Credit: Chris Eades 12 Numerous countries are taking a tougher stance on migration Credit: Dan Charity It comes as Sir Keir Starmer passed the damning milestone of 50,000 people crossing the Channel in small boats under his watch. This is despite pledges from Labour to cut net migration to the UK when they entered office last year. Home Office stats show arrivals this year are 47 per cent higher than the same point in 2024 and 67 per cent higher than in 2023. Some 474 people arrived on Monday, taking the total since Starmer's landslide to 50,271. Advertisement Sir Keir did not repeat his predecessor Rishi Sunak's pledge to "stop the boats" - instead proposing to "smash the gangs" smuggling people into Britain as his solution. But the PM has come under increasing pressure to lower immigration numbers amid growing discontent - with Downing Street admitting "there's clearly much more to do". A Sun investigation uncovered a string of generous perks offered to small boat migrants - including discounts on martial arts classes and dinghy days out plus £1 Aston Villa match tickets for kids. Meanwhile, governments in Europe are cracking down and booting migrants out at swift speeds. Advertisement PORTUGAL On Friday, dozens of migrants landed at an Algarve beach - but were immediately detained. A total of 38 people arrived on the small wooden boat, but they were quickly rounded up by cops. And many have been hauled before court in a lightning crackdown. 12 Advertisement Illegal migrant LIVE STREAMS step by step channel crossing & boasts 'my dream was to come here' from 4 star asylum hotel Authorities said: "The migrants were in a debilitated state and in need of medical care, showing signs of dehydration and hypothermia." But 31 of the 38 were taken to court the following day where a judge gave them 20 days to voluntarily return to Morocco. Portugal's government has vowed to crack down hard on migration. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's government issued thousands of deportation orders during a tight election campaign earlier this year amid surging popularity for the far-right Chega party. Advertisement "This is a case of Montenegro becoming Trumpian," said opposition politician Pedro Nuno Santos during the campaign. 12 Dozens of migrants arrived at an Algarve beach Credit: X 12 Far-right party Chega president André Ventura addresses followers Credit: Getty GREECE Greece's Conservative-led government has pledged to bring in a "disincentive-based policy" to deter migrants. Advertisement Migration Minister Thanos Plevris recently told Skai TV: "From now on, the government will follow a policy of drastically reducing benefits." He even pointed to the menus given to migrants at camps, which he called "hotel-like". The government even went as far as to suspend processing asylum applications from North Africa for three months amid a surge in arrivals. Many of them had arrived on Crete, Greece's largest island. Advertisement But the deputy mayor Eleni Zervoudaki told The Sun: "From the moral side it's illegal and it's not right, but from the other side I can understand the government is searching for a way to stop illegal immigration." The hairline stance taken by the Greek government has paid dividends - with numbers of arrivals nosediving since the move. 12 A shipwreck of a boat is stranded at a shore in the northern part of Lesbos island Credit: Reuters 12 A migrant reacts with emotion after arriving on Lesbos in 2020 Credit: Alamy Advertisement GERMANY Under former Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany famously adopted an "open door" that saw tens of thousands of people arrive in the country. But fast-forward to 2025, and Berlin is taking a much stricter stance on the matter. New Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to crack down on illegal immigration upon entering office. The open door order has now been revoked, undocumented asylum seekers are being pushed back, and far more cops deployed to the German border. Advertisement Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has confirmed that the measures will continue to remain in place. 12 German federal police checks car arriving at the German-Polish border Credit: Getty POLAND Not content to simply police their border, Polish authorities have announced that fences will be built to prevent illegal migration. Prime Minister Donald Tusk didn't mince words earlier this year when he said: "Anyone who visits Poland, takes advantage of our hospitality and brutally violates the law will be deported from Poland." Advertisement Poland has also carried out brutal immigration raids involving 26,000 police officers and 1,000 border guards. Nearly 1,500 migrants were detained in the raids between February 13 and 14. Karol Nawrocki won the Polish presidency this summer on a campaign that targeted refugees and migrants. His key slogan was "Poland first, Poles first". Advertisement 12 Polish Border Guards check a vehicle at Polish-German border Credit: Reuters ITALY Italy has taken an increasingly muscular approach to immigration over the past few years. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni claims Italy under her watch has become a "model to follow" for other nations. The country even took the unprecedented step to ground a reconnaissance plane used by a German migrant rescue charity. Advertisement NGO Sea-Watch hit back at Italy over the move, calling it "a new escalation in the Italian government's fight against civilian human rights observation in the Mediterranean". Italy is also trying to establish an offshore asylum processing system in Albania. Sir Keir Starmer once said he showed "great interest" in this prospective deal. In the UK, anger at illegal migration is focused on expensive asylum hotels and private housing being used to put up Channel crossers. Advertisement 12 Italian police officers stand at the entrance of a recently build Italian-run migrant centre Credit: AFP
Scottish Sun
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
How Europe is cracking down on migrants with deportations in DAYS while soft-touch Starmer lets 50,000 cross channel
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AS 50,000 migrants have poured into Britain in small boats, European nations are cracking down and securing their own borders. With public anger growing over soaring entries to their nations, more leaders are taking a harsher stance on migration - and dishing out swift deportations. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 12 Migrants onboard a boat during a rescue operation, before their boat capsized on the open sea, off Greece, June 14, 2023 Credit: Reuters 12 Migrant workers arrive for the morning shift at the Fincantieri ship yards Credit: Chris Eades 12 Numerous countries are taking a tougher stance on migration Credit: Dan Charity It comes as Sir Keir Starmer passed the damning milestone of 50,000 people crossing the Channel in small boats under his watch. This is despite pledges from Labour to cut net migration to the UK when they entered office last year. Home Office stats show arrivals this year are 47 per cent higher than the same point in 2024 and 67 per cent higher than in 2023. Some 474 people arrived on Monday, taking the total since Starmer's landslide to 50,271. Sir Keir did not repeat his predecessor Rishi Sunak's pledge to "stop the boats" - instead proposing to "smash the gangs" smuggling people into Britain as his solution. But the PM has come under increasing pressure to lower immigration numbers amid growing discontent - with Downing Street admitting "there's clearly much more to do". A Sun investigation uncovered a string of generous perks offered to small boat migrants - including discounts on martial arts classes and dinghy days out plus £1 Aston Villa match tickets for kids. Meanwhile, governments in Europe are cracking down and booting migrants out at swift speeds. PORTUGAL On Friday, dozens of migrants landed at an Algarve beach - but were immediately detained. A total of 38 people arrived on the small wooden boat, but they were quickly rounded up by cops. And many have been hauled before court in a lightning crackdown. 12 Illegal migrant LIVE STREAMS step by step channel crossing & boasts 'my dream was to come here' from 4 star asylum hotel Authorities said: "The migrants were in a debilitated state and in need of medical care, showing signs of dehydration and hypothermia." But 31 of the 38 were taken to court the following day where a judge gave them 20 days to voluntarily return to Morocco. Portugal's government has vowed to crack down hard on migration. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's government issued thousands of deportation orders during a tight election campaign earlier this year amid surging popularity for the far-right Chega party. "This is a case of Montenegro becoming Trumpian," said opposition politician Pedro Nuno Santos during the campaign. 12 Dozens of migrants arrived at an Algarve beach Credit: X 12 Far-right party Chega president André Ventura addresses followers Credit: Getty GREECE Greece's Conservative-led government has pledged to bring in a "disincentive-based policy" to deter migrants. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris recently told Skai TV: "From now on, the government will follow a policy of drastically reducing benefits." He even pointed to the menus given to migrants at camps, which he called "hotel-like". The government even went as far as to suspend processing asylum applications from North Africa for three months amid a surge in arrivals. Many of them had arrived on Crete, Greece's largest island. But the deputy mayor Eleni Zervoudaki told The Sun: "From the moral side it's illegal and it's not right, but from the other side I can understand the government is searching for a way to stop illegal immigration." The hairline stance taken by the Greek government has paid dividends - with numbers of arrivals nosediving since the move. 12 A shipwreck of a boat is stranded at a shore in the northern part of Lesbos island Credit: Reuters 12 A migrant reacts with emotion after arriving on Lesbos in 2020 Credit: Alamy GERMANY Under former Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany famously adopted an "open door" that saw tens of thousands of people arrive in the country. But fast-forward to 2025, and Berlin is taking a much stricter stance on the matter. New Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to crack down on illegal immigration upon entering office. The open door order has now been revoked, undocumented asylum seekers are being pushed back, and far more cops deployed to the German border. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has confirmed that the measures will continue to remain in place. 12 German federal police checks car arriving at the German-Polish border Credit: Getty POLAND Not content to simply police their border, Polish authorities have announced that fences will be built to prevent illegal migration. Prime Minister Donald Tusk didn't mince words earlier this year when he said: "Anyone who visits Poland, takes advantage of our hospitality and brutally violates the law will be deported from Poland." Poland has also carried out brutal immigration raids involving 26,000 police officers and 1,000 border guards. Nearly 1,500 migrants were detained in the raids between February 13 and 14. Karol Nawrocki won the Polish presidency this summer on a campaign that targeted refugees and migrants. His key slogan was "Poland first, Poles first". 12 Polish Border Guards check a vehicle at Polish-German border Credit: Reuters ITALY Italy has taken an increasingly muscular approach to immigration over the past few years. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni claims Italy under her watch has become a "model to follow" for other nations. The country even took the unprecedented step to ground a reconnaissance plane used by a German migrant rescue charity. NGO Sea-Watch hit back at Italy over the move, calling it "a new escalation in the Italian government's fight against civilian human rights observation in the Mediterranean". Italy is also trying to establish an offshore asylum processing system in Albania. Sir Keir Starmer once said he showed "great interest" in this prospective deal. In the UK, anger at illegal migration is focused on expensive asylum hotels and private housing being used to put up Channel crossers. 12 Italian police officers stand at the entrance of a recently build Italian-run migrant centre Credit: AFP
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Portugal's top court blocks bill restricting immigration
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox LISBON - Portugal's Constitutional Court has blocked a bill approved by the right-wing parliamentary majority that was designed to limit the inflow of immigrants, citing obstacles it creates for family members in joining immigrants legally resident in Portugal. Immediately after late Friday's decision, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa sent the bill back to parliament, which is on recess until September. Last month, the president told the court to check the document for potential infringements of the principles of equality, proportionality and legal security. The bill illustrates the rightward shift in politics in much of Europe, as governments try to fend off the rise of the far-right by being tougher on immigration. The bill would have made hundreds of thousands of migrants legally resident in Portugal wait for two years before they could request permission for immediate family members to join them. Only highly-skilled workers and investors with special residence permits would be exempt. The court ruled that the bill was "likely to lead to the separation of family members" of foreign citizens legally resident in Portugal, which it said would be a "violation of the rights enshrined in the constitution". Last year, the government scrapped a programme that allowed migrants entering Portugal on a tourist visa or waiver to stay and get residence permits if they find work. Immigrants from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries still enjoy most such privileges but the bill would impose the requirement of a long-term work or residence visa that they would need to apply for in the country of origin. Parliament approved the bill on July 16 with support from the centre-right ruling coalition and far-right Chega party, which emerged as the second-largest parliamentary force in a May general election. Left-wing opposition parties have criticised the government for what they call an inhumane bill, and for allowing Chega to impose its anti-immigration agenda on the minority administration. The government denies such accusations, arguing that immigration inflows require better controls, and has already said it intends to adjust the bill to the court's objections. REUTERS
Reuters
17-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Portugal to push ahead with promised corporate tax cuts, PM says
LISBON, July 17 (Reuters) - Portugal's minority government will present a bill that would gradually cut the corporate tax rate to 17% by 2028 from 20% now, aiming to improve business competitiveness and boost investment, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said on Thursday. In keeping with the centre-right ruling coalition's electoral promise and following a one-percentage-point cut this year approved by the previous legislature, the bill would trim one percentage point off the tax rate in each year between 2026 and 2028. The cabinet should approve the bill on Friday, Montenegro said. "This opens a new cycle of tax attractiveness for Portugal ... to strengthen investment with incentives for our entrepreneurs," Montenegro told lawmakers, adding that it would also improve workers' conditions. Business owners have long complained about stifling corporate tax rates, which reach more than 30% when state and municipal taxes are added, representing the second-highest rate in the European Union, according to international think-tank Tax Foundation. The bill is likely to be approved by parliament later with support from the far-right Chega party, which has advocated a substantial tax cut for companies. Chega became the main opposition party after a parliamentary election in May that gave Montenegro's Democratic Alliance a new term.
Euronews
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Portugal's parliament votes to reclassify rape as public crime
The Portuguese parliament re-classified rape as a public crime on Friday, giving authorities the power to investigate and prosecute cases without a formal complaint from the victim. The proposals from Bloco de Esquerda (BE), LIVRE and PAN passed with support from Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the right-wing Chega. Under the new rules, witnesses can report rape and investigations can begin immediately, regardless of whether the victim wants to press charges. But some PSD and Chega MPs abstained from voting, sparking questions in the chamber. Several Socialist Party (PS) MPs also voted in favour of the reclassification, despite their party's official abstention on some proposals. That opposition sparked questions in the chamber, prompting PS parliamentary leader Eurico Brilhante Dias to release a video explaining the party's position. "By making this crime public, the Public Prosecutor's Office no longer consults the victim before moving forward," he said. "The automatic nature of this change removes the victim's voice and we cannot shut out someone who has suffered such a horrific crime." Despite finding broad consensus in parliament, several parties had technical or procedural concerns. Mariana Mortágua from BE said the bill may now head to committee for legal details, such as how investigations begin or the nature of witness protection, can be discussed to reach a broader agreement. "The goal is to avoid unnecessary confrontation at this stage and work toward a strong, unified law in the specialty phase," she said. The approved law brings changes to the Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and the Victim's Statute. The change marks the end of Portugal's outlier status and brings it in line with other European countries. Previously, Portugal sat alongside Italy and San Marino as not classifying rape as a public crime, a position which human rights campaigners had long criticised as being a contravention of the Istanbul Convention, the European Council's international framework for preventing violence against women. In 2019, Portugal's parliament unanimously changed the law to expand the definition of rape to cover all sex without consent, joining just seven EU countries with such a wide definition. Lawmakers and campaigners in Portugal argued the law, which previously required prosecutors to show that an attack involved "violence", had failed to protect people attacked while they were unconscious or coerced into having sex against their will.
