Parliament approved, in general, two resolutions from the PSD and CDS-PP: the “Defender Portugal” program, involving young volunteers for Defense, and “Mente Forte”, dedicated to mental health in the Armed Forces. Both now go to the National Defense Commission.
Parliament approved this Wednesday in general the resolutions presented by PSD and CDS-PP that propose a youth volunteering regime for Defense and a program aimed at mental health in the Armed Forces.
The draft resolution – no force of law – presented by the PSD and CDS-PP and which recommends the Government to create the program “Defend Portugal”he was approved with the votes in favor of the authors and IL, abstention from PS and Chega e votes against Livre, PCP, BE, JPP and PAN.
The resolution that asks the executive to create a program aimed at mental health in the Armed Forceswith the name “Strong Mind”he was approved with votes in favor from PSD, CDS-PP, Chega, IL, Livre, PAN and JPP, abstention from BE and PS, and opposition only from PCP.
At the end of the debate on these proposals, the Social Democratic deputy José Lago Gonçalves defended that “very important” proposals for the country are at stake and considered that the Portuguese know that the military career is valued, stressing that the “biggest investment ever” in the area of defense.
The PSD deputy stated that there is a generation of Portuguese who should have the opportunity to serve in the Armed Forcesregardless of its origin, and that the project for attract young people will allow those who advance and enlist to pursue a more informed career.
Previously, also for the PSD, the deputy Liliana Fidalgo argued that the proposal to value mental health “should not be read as a weakening of the military condition”but rather its reinforcement.
The socialist Hugo Oliveira defended that Portugal, similar to what is done in other European countries, should seek “more flexible solutions capable of bringing young people closer to the Armed Forces without reducing the demands of the military institution”but criticized the PSD and CDS-PP for “two separate measures that look more like political ‘marketing’ exercises”.
Chega’s deputy Nuno Simões de Melo pointed out the absence of members of the Government in this debate, stating that it demonstrates the importance that the executive gives to the issue of defense or to the parties that support it, and criticized the “Defend Portugal” proposal, questioning what the status of young people who join will be.
“Are they hikers? Scouts on steroids? Civil defense of the territory organized by the military for periods of forest surveillance? We don’t know. We really have a lot of doubts,” he said.
