In statements to journalists after participating in the inauguration ceremony of the Aerospace Technology and Innovation Center at the Air Command in Monsanto, Nuno Melo was questioned about the possibility of establishing a national citizenship service, lasting between six and 12 months, as proposed today by the Association for Economic and Social Development (SEDES).
In response, the Minister of Defense emphasized that across Europe, there are “studies and opinions about new possibilities,” but he stated that what interests him is the Portuguese case.
“Regarding the Portuguese case, what I can tell you is that we don’t have any other model on the table other than the one currently in execution,” he assured, adding that his concern as Minister of Defense is “to create conditions for young people to see the Armed Forces as a possibility to fulfill a dream and a career.”
To achieve this, Nuno Melo argued that it is necessary to “dignify the Armed Forces, which, in turn, involves ensuring, among other things, that the military can have better salaries, be compensated for the restrictions of military condition, or supported in case of disability or death.”
“That’s why we launched a historic increase in all these levels in Portuguese democracy, and that’s how we try to recruit more and retain better in our ranks. This is the discussion at this moment, in terms of resources, in Portugal, although on the academic level all others are necessarily interesting,” he stressed.
When asked about measures the Government intends to adopt to increase the programming rate of the Military Programming Law, after it was revealed today that in 2023 this rate decreased compared to 2022, Nuno Melo responded that, firstly, the executive intends to ensure that it can have “resources that are applicable in time, so that acquisitions can happen,” but also “invest in the Armed Forces.”
“From the moment we assume that National Defense is a priority – and for this Government, it is a priority – we try to channel resources to National Defense that then also have to be executed,” he stated.
That’s why, he continued, the Government decided to ensure that, by 2029, the Armed Forces will have an investment in Defense equivalent to 2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), anticipating by one year what was initially planned.
Regarding the negotiations for the 2025 State Budget, Nuno Melo said it seems evident to him that Portugal needs a budget, adding that the Portuguese “don’t want new elections.”
“The Government is available to negotiate, the opposition has the opportunity to present its conditions. I hope that, in the end, we can have a State Budget, because that’s the best for Portugal. As for the rest, I don’t contribute to speculation,” he said, in statements where he refused to comment on the topic of euthanasia regulation.
