Portugal toughens migration rules after swing to the right

Portugal revealed on Monday a fresh plan to toughen some immigration regulations, following in the footsteps of other EU countries and just days before Europeans go to the polls in an election expected to shift the bloc's political balance to the right. "We need people in Portugal willing to help us build a fairer and more prosperous society," stated Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro. "But we cannot go to the other extreme and have wide-open doors." The government will abolish the frequently utilized "manifestation of interest" system, which previously allowed non-EU migrants without a job contract to travel to Portugal and obtain residency after paying social insurance for a year.