1. Political representation of nationals abroad Eduardo da Fonseca Quá General Directorate of Consular Affairs and Portuguese Communities (DGACCP) Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Portugal 1 Riga, 17 th December 2012

2. 4 244 000 Portuguese population (or with Portuguese origin) living abroad 2010/2011 Source: DGACCP 2 Political representation of nationals abroad

3. Europe -» 1 600 000 North and South America -» 2 250 000 Africa -» 330 000 Asia -» 45 000 Oceania -» 18 000 Source: DGACCP 3 Political representation of nationals abroad

4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs support the Portuguese Communities: Social; Juridic; Cultural; Portuguese Language/Learning Portuguese abroad; Associativism. 4 Political representation of nationals abroad

5. Portugal tries to maintain the links also through the political participation: Election of Members of Parliament (MP); Portuguese Communities Bureau / Conselho das Comunidades Portuguesas. 5 Political representation of nationals abroad

6. 6 The 230 Members of Portuguese Parliament are elected by 22 electoral circles. 6 Political representation of nationals abroad

7. 7 Our Parliament has 4 MP`s elected by 2 electoral circles dedicated to the Portuguese living abroad: 2 MP`s elected by the electoral circle Europe; 2 MP`s elected by the electoral circle Off the Europe (rest of the world). Political representation of nationals abroad

8. Portuguese living abroad can also vote to the election for the Republic President. To vote in both elections, Portuguese citizens must be registered at the Portuguese Consulate and vote in person. 8 Political representation of nationals abroad

9. The Portuguese Communities Bureau started in 1980 and was the first experience of institutional listening and dialogue between the Portuguese government and its emigration and Diaspora. 9 Political representation of nationals abroad

10. 10 The main function of the Portuguese Communities Bureau is to be a consultative body of the government in various subjects: Provide opinion to legislative proposals of the Government or Parliament regarding Portuguese living abroad; Make proposals and recommendations about the emigration policies. Political representation of nationals abroad

11. 11 The bureau is composed by 73 members: 63 are elected by the citizens with inscription at the Portuguese Consulate; 10 are appointed by the associations of Portuguese living abroad; by the representatives of emigrants from Madeira and Azores (autonomic regions of Portugal); and by the Portuguese elected at some organization on the destination country. Political representation of nationals abroad

12. 12 The Portuguese Communities Bureau is composed by a Permanent Council and has some Commissions: Associativism and Media; Social Affairs and Migration; Language, Education and Culture; Economic Affairs; Consular Affairs; Political participation. Political representation of nationals abroad

13. 13 Despite the political participation at the origin country, Portugal strongly supports the engagement of national citizens with the political activity on the destination country. Political representation of nationals abroad

14. 14 Thank you! Paldies! eduardo.qua@dgaccp.pt eduardoqua@yahoo.co.uk Political representation of nationals abroad