Before the start of the second and final day of the general debate on the 2026 State Budget proposal, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco addressed the recent death of a National Republican Guard (GNR) officer on Monday.
“A GNR officer died in the line of duty while combating drug trafficking. On behalf of the entire chamber, I can pay tribute to someone who lost their life fighting for something important to all of us,” he stated.
The president of the Parliament also expressed “heartfelt condolences to the family and the GNR,” and paid tribute “in recognition of this act in the name of everyone’s safety” in the fight “against the scourge that is drug trafficking.”
“I believe I can do this on behalf of the entire chamber,” he remarked, receiving standing applause from all parties and the Government bench.
A GNR officer died and three others were injured on Monday night after their boat was struck by a high-speed vessel that had been detected on the Guadiana River, which is suspected by the guard to be involved in drug trafficking.
