National Defence Council (Belmonte)
The National Defence Council of Belmonte (Luzelese: Conselho de Defesa Nacional de Belmonte, CDNB) is a Belmontese institution responsible to inform and advise the president on military and security affairs, including threats on national sovereignty and integrity, acting closely with the presidency, the Federal Government and the Armed Forces. Established in 1957, the CDNB was created to keep military control over major government issues during the height of the Swords' Republic, but since its fall it evolved into a non-partisan organization.
History
The National Defence Council was created by the new Belmontese constitution in the aftermath of the Great War and the establishment of the New Republic, being the successor of the Supreme Belmontese Military Council (CMBS in Luzelese) which was established after Operation Palmier to coordinate resistance efforts in occupied Belmontese territory. During its first years, the CDNB exercised little to no influence over national politics until the 1963 terrorist attacks and the ascension of hardliner groups of the URN into power, starting the most repressive period of the Sword's Republic. It was during that time that the CDNB exercised most of its influence, keeping military control over government affairs as well as coordinating acts against the democratic opposition and other left-wing groups. After the end of the Sword's Republic and under the premiership of Félix Bragança, however, the CDNB underwent several reforms, curtailing its influence and reducing the organization's role only to specific military affairs.
Role
The CDNB is the official advisory body of the Government of Belmonte for military affairs, being responsible for inform and advise both the president and the premier on the current status of the Armed Forces and about any threat against the national integrity, sovereignty and security of Belmonte, working closely with law enforcement agencies and the SNI to always have an updated situation about the country's national defences.
Members
CDNB membership changed over time since, unlike the State Council, there is no specific amount of members determined by the constitution. Currently, the CDNB is composed of both the president and premier of Belmonte together with the presidents of both houses of Congress, commanders of the three branches of the Armed Forces and the director-general of the SNI.
Current members
| Office | Member |
|---|---|
| President of Belmonte and the Council | Caetano Villa-Lobos |
| Premier of Belmonte | Graça Fonseca |
| President of the Senate | Carlos Marinho |
| President of the Chamber of Deputies | Aline Soares |
| Commanders of the Armed Forces | Bento Monteiro |
| Joaquim Braga-Neto | |
| Alvim Cardoso | |
| Director-General of the SNI | Borges Renato da Silva |