In the final debate before the election, parties in parliament this Monday defended the value of a career in the armed forces, with a majority rejecting compulsory military service as a way to solve the manpower shortage.
In the radio debate, the last in which all parties with seats in parliament took part, with the exception of Chegi, who decided not to participate, the topic of defense led the leaders to agree to increase investment in the Armed Forces and their specialists, which, according to the majority, was is happening. do not undergo compulsory military service.
Regarding the increase in the defense budget, taking into account the NATO requirement of 2% of GDP, PSD President Luis Montenegro, representing the Democratic Alliance (PSD, CDS-PP and PPM), believed that it was “impossible to do it” in this legislature, while PS leader Pedro Nuno Santos remained committed to meeting the deadlines agreed with international partners.
According to Pedro Nuno Santos, the focus is also on the modernization and development of the military industry, as well as the revision of careers and salary scales “within the financial and budgetary capabilities of the state.”
Mariana Mortagua of the Bloc de Esquerda (BE) also highlighted the recovery of the naval industry and stated that “Portugal must always place itself in a position of cooperation with peace initiatives rather than with military initiatives” within the framework of European cooperation. without subordination to “foreign interests.”
On the part of the CDU (PCP and PEV), PCP Secretary General Paulo Raimundo emphasized the high appreciation of the salaries and careers of professionals in the Armed Forces and considered that anyone who discounts the “hidden and growing discontent” within this institution “is making a dangerous mistake.”
Rui Rocha of the Liberal Initiative (IL) ruled out the idea of turning to private military groups, as is happening, for example, in the US, and Ines Souza Real of PAN defended “international cooperation efforts to restore peace”, also signaling the environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine and Gaza Strip, Palestine.
On the Livre side, Ruy Tavares proposed creating a Veterans Institute, using empty military barracks for university residences, and recognizing the State of Palestine “without waiting for the European Union.”
When asked whether to continue to support Ukraine financially and militarily, the parties answered in the affirmative, with the exception of the PKP, which supported reconstruction, but not the military side. “We have been doing this for two years, the consequences are visible,” explained Paulo Raimundo.
At the final stage of the debate, PS and PSD disagreed with the introduction of a national compensation circle in the electoral system, while smaller parties supported this measure, as well as regarding the existence of a reflection day on the eve of elections, which IL disagreed with this, the remaining parties considered that This is not the central question, although we have not left any thoughts on this topic.
In the final round, asking different questions to each of the candidates, Luis Montenegro answered “we’ll see soon” when asked about Pedro Passos Coelho’s participation in the election campaign, while Pedro Nuno Santos admitted that he does not have a family doctor, and António Costa promised every family doctor to 2017.