Fifty years later, 25 de Abril is alive and took to the streets of Portugal and the world with hope for the future and many memories to share

Just like fifty years ago, on a Thursday morning when the sun of democracy overturned the darkness of 48 years of a fierce dictatorship, the Portuguese once again took to the streets not only in Portugal but in various parts of the globe where this date is also held. is celebrated (in Spain the Carnation Revolution is marked by the music of José Afonso). Leaving Santarém towards Lisbon, the freedom column followed the steps taken by the soldiers of April who paraded in a military parade that took place in Terreiro do Paço (which had the code name: Toledo) and brought together around 1100 soldiers from the three branches of the Armed Forces. After a video mapping show, the city’s main visitor square hosted this military parade. “Grândola” was once again, as always, sung in the streets (just like in parliament, in the face of denial from Chega deputies) which were filled with the red of carnations and the poetry of names like Manuel Alegre.

This event, which took place in the morning, brought together people (who lived during this period or not) and tourists who were in the city but enjoy and know the history of Portugal. April 25, 1974 was considered, by a survey, the most important date in our history. Marcello Caetano and Salazar are two names that are part of the past but the truth is that there are still 17 streets in the country named after the man who created the Estado Novo. Fifty years of democracy in Portugal were celebrated with a president, son of a figure from the former regime, saluting the soldiers who carried out this coup d’état. For Marcon, «Today’s Europe owes a lot to the courage of the Captains of April».

Part of this story was the military who took this and other key points (as was the case of RTP, Carmo Barracks or the airport) and who throughout the day assumed the same positions they had fifty years ago, making a sign of victory or holding the famous red carnations given by D. Celeste to the then young soldiers who placed the flowers in the muzzles of their rifles to demonstrate that they did not want to shed blood (the revolution ended with 4 deaths). There are many stories that the men who participated in Salgueiro Maia’s column have to tell and according to one of the journalists who followed this column for fifty years, it was the freedom that people felt to say whatever they wanted and had not been able to do so in the previous 48 years. .

After the military parade there were official ceremonies in parliament. In the usual speeches that mark this date, all parties reflected on the importance of this date and in relation to the statements that President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa made to journalists about the country’s need to pay for what it did in the colonial period, all parties ( from left to right) ask for a retraction of the PR and argue that more Lusophony is needed and that the past is part of history (be it good or bad). Rebelo de Sousa also recalled the importance of names such as former PR Ramalho Eanes, soldier of the 25th of November. One of the international figures present at the Assembly of the Republic was the president of Guinea-Bissau.

Democracy opens doors and welcomes everyone to explain its history

Parliament was open for visits. «The 25th of April has to be a date of unity, the ceremony here at the Assembly of the Republic represents this union of democracy and the regime in which we live. This is fortunately the regime in which we live and which the 25th of April created. Anyone who wants another regime is in the wrong place», defended PS parliamentary leader, Alexandra Leitão. Parties on the parliamentary left left the message that it is necessary to avoid setbacks and warned those nostalgic for the previous regime. For the majority of Portuguese people, as the latest survey points out, this is the most beautiful day in history and marks the beginning of our democracy (80% of Portuguese companies were born after 1974).

In the afternoon, Avenida da Liberdade was filled with a popular parade that was attended by the president of the AR, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco. Thousands paraded holding posters with the well-known slogan “April 25th, Always!”. The left was in force in this parade, which also included the presence of the IL. At 91 years old, Celeste dos Carnations was one of those who walked down the avenue. Of the dozens of foreigners who joined the celebrations, the Spanish were the ones who most focused on this date as something to remember.

This initiative, where memories were exchanged, took place in various parts of the country, including Porto. Happy people (even with some tears) who live democratic history, not wanting to repeat the mistakes of the past. Where you didn’t live without freedom, you just survived.

Young people and less young people walked down the avenue as “simple citizens” free to do what they want. Luís Montenegro, who lived his first April 25th (fifty years ago he was just over 1 year old) as prime minister asked «young people to build the Portugal of tomorrow». The government official hopes that this date will also be important for the current state of the country. Democracy in Portugal was consolidated with the entry, together with Spain, into the EEC

For captain Vasco Lourenço, from MFA, April will never be completely fulfilled as there is always room for improvement, but this is the definition of a democratic regime that is constantly changing. «We always prefer democracy, even if imperfect, to dictatorship», said the head of state on a day when the party took to the streets. After fifty years of hearing “where were you on April 25, 1974?” the question from now on will be “where were you on April 25, 2024?”. This is the time to not forget April.