The Portuguese legislative structure has a new entity “The military Veteran statute”. A long waited National recognition to all those that have engaged in overseas military operations in the service of Portugal. This Statute will embrace all those military that have fought in the years sixties/seventies (of the 20th Century) in Angola, Guiné Bissau, Mozambique, East Timor, and the India possessions of Goa, Damão, Diu and Dadra e Nagar-Aveli; as well as all those that, since then, have, are or will be participating in overseas peacekeeping operations.
The benefits of this (new) statute – which is extended to the veterans’ widows – will be physically envisioned through an identification card (issued by the Portuguese Ministry of Defense) and a (official) pin, also issued by the Portuguese MOD.
According to the Portuguese Law 46/2020, the Veteran statute will be a guarantor of:
- The establishment of the Portuguese Former Combatant’s Day (9 April);
- Veterans’ free access to public transportation within urban areas;
- Free access to Museums;
- Free access to PTSD psychological/medical support;
- Exemption of payment of tax/fees in medical treatments in public Hospitals;
- Preference in the attribution of social accommodation in case of homeless veterans;
- Military honors in the funeral of the veteran, which will be entitle to use of the National Flag;
- Special dedicated area for veterans in the burial area of the cemeteries;
- State support for the repatriation of the veterans’ remaining (corpses) from the former overseas territories;
- Monetary subsidy in case of absence, or extremely low, revenue.
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