VILA VERDE (25 April) – The essence of the speeches of the solemn session commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April in Vila Verde

On the day of Freedom and the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April, the political and independent forces sitting in the Municipal Assembly of Vila Verde were unanimous regarding April’s achievements, but differed regarding the practical effects at national and local level.

Júlia Fernandes – Mayor of Vila Verde

«Continue April is a permanent mission for peace and progress for our lands and our people»

For Júlia Fernandes, April 25, 1974 “gave people hope for a better world”. Highlighting the importance of the date, «at a time of such a restless planet», he also points out the population’s participation in the «bold program» of commemorating the Revolution in the municipality. «We are leaving April to the younger ones», he adds. «With certainty and pride, we are taking steps to make them understand that April’s values ​​are not guaranteed».

Thus, for the mayor, «continuing April is a permanent mission for peace and progress for our lands and our people».

In this “continuous process of implementation”, the Mayor called for “the mobilization and active participation of everyone”, giving the example of the Municipality’s commemorative program for the 50th anniversary of the Revolution, which counted (and will continue to count) on the participation and involvement of local authorities, associations and other institutions, schools and groups of schools, entrepreneurs and residents of Vila Verde in general.

Listing a set of ongoing municipal investments, he assumed that «health and education are priority and fundamental areas for development that always puts people first».

«We are also investing heavily in strengthening basic services, such as sanitation and water supply networks. We are working to reinforce and improve waste collection and management, with an intervention that we want to be increasingly sustainable and valuing natural resources”, added the mayor.

The requalification of the municipal road network, which «was heavily penalized by adverse weather conditions», deserved special mention in the municipality’s investments. The Municipality is also working to «guarantee new alternatives in terms of accessibility, such as access to the Oleiros Industrial Park and the future North-South Axis». Regarding the intended construction of the bypass to the EN 101 in Vila Verde, the mayor said that she is “intensifying the efforts and the fight”.

Carlos Arantes – President of the Municipal Assembly of Vila Verde

« Young people underestimate the power of voting»

The President of the Assembly opened his speech, mainly dedicated to young people, praising the decoration of carnations throughout the streets of Vila Verde. “It made April feel,” he commented. Pointing to the last 50 years as progress in all areas, he emphasizes that, despite this, «freedom and democracy are not immune». Here, he addresses young people, warning that they “underestimate the power of voting”. According to Carlos Arantes, the post-25th of April generation, «born and raised in freedom», «moves away from politics». “We need to combat apathy, populism, fear and hatred,” he warns. In the Estado Novo, he says, «they said that the population was not prepared to live in democracy, as they could not decide for themselves». Today, the leader highlights the importance of “instilling the responsibility to choose”.

Samuel Estrada – President of the Junta de Atiães (Independent)

April 25th is “a starting point”

For the mayor of Atiães, the 25th of April “should not be taken as an achievement, but rather as a starting point”. According to him, «signs are emerging from the extreme right that wants to return to the past», due to «despair» in democracy. For the mayor, despite the Revolution having “put an end to the single party”, “Portugal has lived between two parties” with “political dinosaurs”. In his speech, he also did not hold back in criticizing the various directors of the municipality’s institutions, calling the issue the ‘EPATV case’. “The justice system applied soft sentences to a very serious case of corruption and allowed the crime to remain intact, despite the crimes, to the delight of the offenders and the astonishment of the population,” he said.

In his view, everything is due to the crystallization of power: «see the case of the municipality of Vila Verde, which in 1997 went from yellow to orange, and, since then, for 27 years, the same man – by himself or through intermediaries people – governs our land with reinforced power while the opposition watches, powerless and in silence».

The complaints went further: «In Vila Verde, of the 64 million foreseen in the budget, it distributes around 1.5 million to the parishes. Much less is invested in parishes than consumed at parties».

He ended by urging “the participation of those who are far from Politics, remembering the challenging words that marked the pontificate of John Paul II: do not be afraid”.

Ricardo Cerqueira – deputy of the Left Bloc

“This is the founding date of Portugal”

The Bloco de Esquerda highlights a list of names of women arrested under the Estado Novo, all from Vila Verde. To them, deputy Ricardo Cerqueira recognizes “the courage to say no”. He also reinforces the importance of recognizing the revolution as a rejection of “racism, discrimination, colonialism”. The Left Bloc thus highlighted the independence of Portuguese-speaking African countries and the rights of women.

Paulo Gomes – CDS deputy – PP

This date “is an invitation to reflect on the present and the future”

The CDS-PP representative highlights «the Portuguese heroes» who «took to the streets to change the country’s destiny». For the party, what matters now is “being alert to threats that could undermine freedom, democracy, justice and solidarity.”

Pedro Araújo – PS deputy

«There are still many vices and tics of authoritarianism and PIDE»

The Socialist Party celebrates April but highlights that “not everything has passed”. «There are still many tics of authoritarianism and PIDE». Pedro Araújo highlights that, therefore, «free elections are not enough, the people must be well informed». As a motto, the speech included women’s rights and young people who “don’t want to be workhorses”. «We are better than 50 years ago, but the current situation should not make us proud», he concludes.

Manuel Barros – PSD deputy

“Our democracy is still a child”

For Manuel Barros, representative of the PSD, we must «visit the past, think about the present and envisage the future». He highlighted the emancipation of local power, which has “responded calmly but determinedly” to the challenges. In addition to this, the deputy shared a memory of April 25th and highlighted November 25th. In his speech, young people were also the motto, stating that they must “defend democracy and revive it”. «50 years leads to longevity, but, in politics, we know that our democracy is still in its infancy».

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