“We will soon approve a new project for strategic investment in national defense, with an ongoing update, also strategic in the European Union, alternative, European for defence”, he said.

In her speech at the ceremony commemorating the 104th anniversary and the Day of the Power of Batalha, Helena Carreiras, reinforcing the intention to reinforce the operationality of the Armed Forces, the maintenance and modernization of the Armed Forces and the maintenance and modernization of the Armed Forces equipment, and “betting on programs with a multiplier effect, capable of dual use and that create wealth for the economy”.

This reinforcement also “through investment in people” and “dignifying the military condition, attracting more young people to the Armed Forces and providing all soldiers with better service conditions”.

“This appreciation of our Armed Forces must be the same for greater openness and dialogue with society. People who know the Armed Forces and the Armed Forces better need to know better the society they defend”, he maintained.

On this occasion, the Ministry of National Defense also promised to continue working towards improving the living conditions of former combatants, “through the main legal instrument approved in the previous legislation: the statute of former combatants”.

“Since its attraction, more than 38,000 cards of former combatants and widows of former combatants have already been published”, he informed.

He also said that there were several measures, including free public transport passes in the area of ​​residence, exemption from fees from the National Health Service, free admission to museums or national monuments, and “the validation of approximately national 110 thousand requests for the insignia of the former combatant”.

However, much remains to be done.”

“The implementation of the action plan for the disabled and the support plan for former homeless combatants are indicative of our increased attention to these issues, with the care they deserve”, he highlighted.

The president of the Liga dos Combatentes de Portugal, Chito Rodrigues, took the opportunity to activate the Government’s request for “revision of the special pension supplement and the lifetime pension increase, exempt from IRS, as well as health support, namely medical and medication”. “.

“The Liga Combatentes will arrive at concrete proposals on this delicate and important subject, which is not expressed in the government program”, delivery of the projects.