The Defense Minister this Monday asked that “retrograde ideas and the intolerance of some” should not prevent the Armed Forces from counting on “the talent and competence of everyone,” recalling that she was the first woman to hold this post.
“It is important to remember that the value of equality is one of the constitutional values we are sworn to protect, and that we cannot protect a value that is not intended or realized. The armed forces have made a remarkable journey here and are an example for society. I hope this legacy can be extended. Let us not allow retrograde ideas and the intolerance of some to prevent us from counting on the talent and competence of all those who want to serve Portugal in its armed forces,” he said.
Helena Carreiras spoke at a military farewell ceremony held this morning in Belém, her last public appearance as defense minister.
In her speech, the Governor expressed pride in being the first woman to hold these positions and listed a number of measures taken during her tenure, such as increasing defense funds in the state budget, meeting the goals of the Plan for Recovery and Resilience (PRR) or assistance provided to Ukraine.
Helena Carreiras also thanked the current military leaders for their “frontality” in the institutional relationships they had.
“For the knowledge that perseverance and calm should prevail over the foam of days, that the noise of circumstances should not lead us astray. For we know that this is done by taking responsibility, making changes, and not just waiting for changes to come to life. we proposed or that ideas come from outside,” he said.
The governor also called on military leaders to resist, “as they have done hitherto, the self-fulfilling prophecies and catastrophic visions of the chaos engineers, to continue to confront, coupled with tutelage, the countless challenges to national defense.” “
“As we celebrate our 50th anniversary on April 25, we should be collectively proud and remind the world of the central role of the Armed Forces in the process that brought democracy to our country. And how exemplarily they knew how to find their place in the constitutional order, I always swear to defend the Motherland, risking my own life. And defending the Motherland means today, more than ever, defending democracy,” he concluded.
Maria Helena Chavez Carreiras, 58, a military sociologist and university professor, has published work on women in the armed forces and was the first woman to head the Institute of National Defense (IDN).
CDS-PP President Nuno Melo will become the next Minister of National Defense in the XXIV constitutional government led by Social Democrat Luis Montenegro, who takes office on Tuesday.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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