Portugal’s Armed Forces demanding pay increases in line with police
Portugal’s military is bristling with indignation over “differentiated treatment” between the Armed Forces and the country’s police.
If the government (whichever government is in place from March 10) decides to increase PSP/ GNR subsidies (as per the protests police have been waging since January) without increasing troops’ subsidies accordingly, “the discontent could develop into protest”.
This is the news this morning from SIC, and Expresso – which describes the military as in “effervescence”.
Army chiefs have already travelled to Belém Palace to explain their positions with President Marcelo, who is thus “totally up to speed” with the issues that will now be left to sit-out the elections on March 10, and then be reviewed, on the basis of whichever government emerges.
PS leader Pedro Nuno Santos has already said he “will not negotiate under pressure” – a reference to the ‘spontaneous’ picket of the final election debate (in which Santos faced off against PSD leader Luís Montenegro at the Capitólio theatre on Monday). His adversary said the police claims were completely justified.
But the truth is that increasing payment subsidies across all the country’s security forces will imply huge costs – costs that are not in the State Budget for 2024, which is already a document that has seen Armed Forces register dissatisfaction.
NEW POLL SEES ALMOST HALF COUNTRY IN FAVOUR OF MORE INVESTMENT IN DEFENCE
Meantime, a new poll, promoted by academic think-tank SEDES, and performed by Pitagórica, has shown that almost half the country is in favour of more State investment in defence – even though this is a subject barely receiving mention through the ongoin election campaign.
Just as clear were the almost 47% of those questioned who believe there should be a return of military service, or obligatory citizenship service for the younger generations.
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
