While the French president marked the 50th anniversary of April 25th with a video released on social media, where he states that “today’s Europe owes a lot to the courage of the April Captains”, Joe Biden sent a congratulatory letter to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa .
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French President Emmanuel Macron also marked April 25th, a date that marks the history of Portugal, but which is “so important for the democracy of Europe”, as he mentioned in a video message, published on social media.
Macron used the official YouTube channel of the presidency of the French republic to praise the importance of the 25th of April revolution in the European democratic path, where he stated that “today’s Europe owes a lot to the courage of the April Captains”.
“Tomorrow [quinta-feira] are celebrated 50 years of the Carnation Revolution. I would like to join our friends in Portugal, the Portuguese in France and all our compatriots of Portuguese origin to celebrate this anniversary, which is so important for democracy in Europe”, said the French head of state.
Macron also praised the young “captains of April” who “expressed the hope of an entire people for peace and democracy”, despite the vast majority of these soldiers being under thirty years of age at the time.
For the French head of state, the friendly relationship between Portugal and France is, to this day, reinforced by the flow of citizens. Since the period of the dictatorship, and in particular before the 1974 revolution, many Portuguese have sought a better life in France, and many of these people continue to live between the two countries.
“France is proud to have welcomed into its territory hundreds of thousands of Portuguese men and women in the 50s and 60s, exiled by poverty, by the systematic violation of their rights, by arbitrary and cruel political repression, and by refusing to participate in this system and in these unjust wars”, explained Macron in a video.
Currently, Portugal and France share “secular ties”, prepare the future of the European Union and defend the causes that determine the future, through “the same vision of a free, democratic and fair world”, defended the French president, adding that “We must it to the memory of the ‘captains of April’ and to the Portuguese people who, fifty years ago, stood up against injustice and poverty and won the admiration of France, Europe and the world with a red carnation in their hand”.
The French head of state ended the video marking the commemoration of the day of the revolution with the phrase “April 25th, always! Long live Portugal! Thank you to Portugal!”
Joe Biden marks April 25th
On the other side of the Atlantic, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, also congratulated Portugal on the 50th anniversary of April 25th in a letter sent to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
“I congratulate the president and people of Portugal on the 50th anniversary of the return of democracy and celebrate the courageous spirit fueled by the Carnation Revolution and the triumph over authoritarianism. This milestone highlights the lasting commitment to freedom and democracy shared by our countries”, wrote Joe Biden to the President of the Republic, cited by international agencies.
Joe Biden also recognized that Portugal “is among the first countries that recognized the United States” after the revolution and recalled that the American founders “toasted the celebration of independence with Madeira wine”, according to international agencies.
