-PUB-
The day began with the extraordinary Municipal Assembly, in the cloisters of the former Civil Government, where the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April was celebrated.
From the youngest to the oldest, several voices were heard, with freedom being the key word.
João Gaspar, president of the Assembly, spoke of this day as “a historic milestone for Portugal”, which brought democracy to the country and “put an end to terror, exploitation and the backwardness to which we were subjected”.
And he stressed that “we must not forget the mistakes of the past, if we are not condemned to repeat them”, so “everything depends on our perspective of the future” and, to this end, “we must not have a short memory”.
But he confesses that “there is only real freedom when there is peace, bread, housing, health and education for all Portuguese”.
César Cordeiro asks for the same, who, in the afternoon, watched the parade of the municipality’s philharmonic bands, who played some of the emblematic songs of the revolution.
This Vila Real expects, among other things, that women “earn the same as men”, remembering that, “before 1974, many women only left the house with the permission of men. They were the ones in charge.”
Beside her, with a carnation in her hand, Maria dos Anjos, was around 20 years old and remembers being in the village, in Vale de Nogueiras. “Life has gotten better, starting with the freedom to say what we want. At that time we had to be very careful with PIDE, nothing could be said”.
Vila Real took to the streets to celebrate the 25th of April. There was no shortage of harpsichords or songs like “Grândola Vila Morena” or “After Do Adeus”.
