Yesterday, on the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April, Pombal opened the celebrations of the date with a solemn session in the Salão Nobre of the Paços do Concelho focused on young people, to whom multiple activities in the celebrations program were aimed over the last few weeks, counting on the active involvement of the municipality’s three school groups.
At the ceremony, which took place during the morning, Luís Marques, Commissioner for the Commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April in Pombal, stated that it is the responsibility of the generations who lived through the Revolution to keep the memory of this historic moment alive and ensure the transmission of its legacy to the youngest sections of Portuguese society. For the Commissioner, this is a “condition to guarantee an open, free and tolerant society, without which there is no development, much less progress”. He also admits that “we have not yet reached the society promised by the carnation revolution”, making it clear that, despite young people showing themselves in favor and faithful to the ideals of April, “they are those who have the most doubts about the reality they live in and the future that awaits them.” Finally, he stressed that this generation, although well prepared, “needs answers, needs opportunities, needs qualified jobs, [e] You need to not have to emigrate to feel fulfilled.”
To close the session, the President of the Municipal Assembly, Paulo Mota Pinto, highlighted the role of the Carnation Revolution in promoting freedom, but asserted that there are still many challenges in development, in the construction of wealth, in the balance of the territory, and in the consolidation of democracy, and lamented the lack of Portuguese participation in the country’s political life. According to Pinto, “politics is made, like all human action, for the future every day, not only by elected representatives or politicians. It is the task of citizenship and this future is a daily task”.
The session opened space for the participation of André Ramalhais (Bloco de Esquerda), Tiago Mota (Liberal Initiative), Daniela Martins (Communist Youth), Francisco Constantino (Popular Youth), Marisa Ferreira (Socialist Youth), José Eduardo (Social Democratic Youth) , Raquel Marques (Movimento Oeste Independente) and Cristelle Santos (Young Mayor of Pombal), to represent the position of young people on the heritage of the 25th of April.
After the ceremony, which included a performance by the Marquês de Pombal Municipal Choir, the exhibition “Photographs that made history” and the street installation “Carnations and Freedom” were inaugurated, with a musical moment by Tuna from Universidade Sénior de Pombal.
To mark the day, the Street Play initiative was organized for the youngest. Between 10am and 6pm in Jardim das Tílias, next to the City Hall building, there were inflatables, face painting, traditional games, and a reading corner.
Tags: Pombal directs celebrations #50th anniversary #25th April young people
