Helena Carreiras

Helena Carreiras
Minister of National Defence
In office
30 March 2022 – 2 April 2024
Prime MinisterAntónio Costa
Preceded byJoão Gomes Cravinho
Succeeded byNuno Melo
Personal details
Born
Maria Helena Chaves Carreiras

(1965-09-26) 26 September 1965 (age 59)
Portalegre, Portugal
Political partySocialist Party (2022–present)
Spouse
(m. 2002)
Alma materISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon
European University Institute

Maria Helena Chaves Carreiras (born 26 September 1965) is a Portuguese sociologist who has specialized in issues relating to the military, particularly gender aspects. From 2019 she was director of Portugal's National Defence Institute (IDN) and in March 2022 she became Portugal's first female minister of national defence, being replaced in that position following the 2024 national election.