For some parties in the region, it may be a good idea; for others, it’s a step backward, but all those who spoke to DI agree that a possible return to compulsory military service is no substitute for enhancing careers in the armed forces.
Recently, the Army’s Chief of Staff, Eduardo Ferrão, argued that the reintroduction of compulsory military service, which was abolished around 20 years ago, should be studied.
The Navy’s Chief of Staff, Henrique Gouveia e Melo, is also in favor. “It should be more of a process of development and preparation for society and not useless time in the Armed Forces,” he told Diário de Notícias.
Listened to by DI, the leader of the CDS/PP in the Azores, Artur Lima, said that “defense training” could be studied in the country, aimed at young men and women. He recalls that this is already compulsory in several European countries.
However, Artur Lima doubts that this step will solve the structural problems. “We need a solution for our armed forces, which is not as simplistic as making military service compulsory. It’s not as simple as that. We have to think seriously about the defense of Europe, where the Azores fit in,” he says.
Europe, he points out, forgot about the threat of war for decades and became dependent on the United States of America, only to wake up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The country can have a certain number of reservists, it’s a first step, but we want a highly qualified armed forces. Careers need to be dignified. Europe has forgotten its defense and also the contribution and geostrategic role of the Azores, namely the Lajes Base, which must be rethought and valued,” he stressed.
Paulo Estevão, leader of the PPM in the region, admits that the party is open to studying the issue “according to the evolution of the international situation”, but stresses that “in the current circumstances” he is not in favor of reintroducing compulsory military service.
“We believe that more incentives should be created, both in terms of training and remuneration for military personnel who volunteer. The capacity we have to attract more young people to our armed forces by improving conditions has not been exhausted,” he says.
He says the training offered to young people in the military must have a medium-term vision: “Allowing them to leave with the conditions to enter well-paid professions, with highly qualified training.”
For Paulo Estevão, these must also be times of restraint. “We’re talking about a confrontation in Eastern Europe with a nuclear power. Dialogue must be the preferred route. We don’t agree with any kind of involvement of armed forces,” he points out, noting that financial and arms support must be maintained for Ukraine.
The leader of CHEGA/Açores (right-wing extreme party), José Pacheco, takes a “positive view” of the return to compulsory military service.
“It may even be an opportunity for some young people, who don’t want to study or work, to find a career, a profession. Military service ends up providing some skills that aren’t just related to war,” he says.
According to José Pacheco, it would offer young people “some discipline, which is a little lacking in society”.
“There’s a shortage of personnel and the military has been raising this alarm quite often. We don’t see it in a bad light, we think it’s positive. It obviously has to be analyzed. We have to look at the costs,” he said.
Another issue is investment in the careers of the armed forces, which will have to be “rethought”, he believes.
However, the measure makes no sense from the Left Bloc’s point of view. “Reintroducing compulsory military service is not the way to solve the problems in the armed forces. We know that there are issues linked to pay and careers. That can be solved by improving conditions,” argues António Lima, coordinator of the Bloc in the Azores.
“As with most public administration workers, over the years we’ve also seen the military’s purchasing power and careers deteriorate, leading to dissatisfaction and unattractive careers,” he points out.
Also, in response to the DI, the Liberal Initiative in the Azores rejects a return to the past. “In 2024, in a consolidated democracy such as Portugal’s, it is ethically unacceptable that, through state coercion, young people are forced to give up their autonomy and individual freedom and serve the state under the conditions and values that the state sees fit,” says the party.
The party doubts that “forcing someone to do what they don’t want to is the best way to increase cohesion among the Portuguese” and maintains that joining the armed forces “is either voluntary or unacceptable”.
The solution reinforces that IL “will always lie in valuing the careers and salaries of the military, in conjunction with other measures, such as raising the maximum age of application or even eliminating it,” as is the case in the United States.
Other measures would be, for example, making the armed forces equal to the security forces, reactivating professional courses “capable of providing professional skills in post-military civilian life”, encouraging the recruitment of more women and recruiting non-nationals.
For IL, the debate on compulsory military service is counterproductive. “It alienates more than it attracts,” she sums up.
The positions of the PS, PSD, and PAN in the region could not be obtained by the end of yesterday’s edition.

in Diário Insular-José Lourenço, director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.

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