Lisbon, June 15, 2021 (Lusa) – The prime minister today expressed his confidence in the GNR’s ability to adapt to the new challenge posed by the political power to protect borders following the extinction of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF). ).

This position was conveyed by António Costa after having presided at Largo do Carmo, in Lisbon, at the ceremony of handing over the general officer’s sword to the first brigadier general of the National Republican Guard (GNR), António Bogas – an act he considered to represent “a historic day” for this security force.

“I would even say that this is a historic day for the national defence and internal security system in Portugal. The GNR is an institution that has a very unique nature: It is a security force, but it is a force of a military nature”, pointed.

In his brief speech, the leader of the executive especially praised “the closeness of the guard in the connection between the State and the communities and for the humanization of the GNR itself”, giving as an example, afterwards, the fact of many international missions, or of the United Nations , or the European Union, request the presence of security forces of the nature of the GNR.

António Costa then considered that the GNR “has a unique ability to adapt and respond always present to the successive challenges posed by the political power”, namely following “the tragedy of the fires of 2005 with the creation of a new valence for intervention, protection and relief”.

“Now, again, new missions are being asked of it in the context of surveillance and protection of our external borders of the European Union as a result of the extinction of the SEF. It is not an unknown mission for the guard, but it is perhaps a mission that has already been forgotten. , it is necessary to reinvent and rebuild it – and we are certain that the GNR will do it with the pride that is characteristic of it,” stressed the prime minister.