50 years of the Carnation Revolution: Portugal takes to the streets in defense of democracy

By Viviane Brochardt

Long live democracy! Last Thursday, April 25th, the people of Portugal took to the streets to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, a milestone that, in 1974, put an end to a period of authoritarian regimes (the Military Dictatorship and the State New, the latter also known as Salazarism), which it lasted in that European country for 48 years (1926-1974).

During the totalitarian period that preceded the Carnation Revolution, Portugal lived under censorship, having to pass books, newspapers, records and films through “prior examination” to then be released. Women needed permission from their husbands or fathers to travel and could not wear bikinis, for example. Political parties were prohibited. Children were indoctrinated in schools with the values ​​of the Estado Novo. Young men were forced by the dictatorial regime to fight in wars in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea, the so-called Colonial War. The country was facing a strong economic crisis which, associated with wars, caused many of its citizens to emigrate.

With the motto “Democratize, Decolonize and Develop”, the Carnation Revolution put an end to the dictatorship and also created the conditions that led to countries that still lived as Portuguese colonies, such as Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and São Tomé and Prince, to gain independence.

This year, in addition to celebrating five decades of democracy, hundreds of thousands of people also took to the streets to mark their political position in the face of the growth of right-wing extremism in Portugal. In the legislative elections that took place in March this year, Chega, a far-right party, increased its group of deputies in the Assembly of the Republic from 12 to 50, made up of 230 members. The advance of the right in Portugal, a phenomenon that can also be seen in other countries, is seen as a threat to the flag of freedom and the “April principles”.

In a statement made on the eve of the celebrations of the Carnation Revolution, the current president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in what could be an alignment with the “decolonize” principle, stated that Portugal must take responsibility for the crimes committed in the former colonies, which generated controversy in the country and strong reaction from right-wing parties, which raise the flag against immigration. André Ventura, representative of Chega, questioned the president: “Pay what? Pay to whom?” and continued criticizing Rebelo de Sousa by saying that the president “was elected by the Portuguese” and “not by the Guineans, Brazilians and Timorese”.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the Brazilian government came forward and the Minister of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, said that she had already made contact with the Portuguese government to discuss reparation actions relating to the enslavement of people forcibly taken from Africa, the massacre of indigenous people and looted goods. For the Brazilian minister, the Portuguese president’s statement came after a public demand made by black Brazilian women’s movements during the 3rd United Nations Permanent Forum for People of African Descent, which took place in Switzerland a week before the Carnation Revolution commemorations.

The women proposed to the Portuguese government measures such as the creation of museums and memory centers, the inclusion of colonization issues in the Portuguese school curriculum and collaboration agreements with Brazil and other countries that were colonies of Portugal to promote reparation with financial investments. , safeguarding memories and reviewing nationality and transit pacts between countries.

While reparative actions are still in the field of intentions, it is worth continuing to celebrate the freedom achieved, which allows public demands, and the rights acquired, which, in a democracy, need to be for everyone. May the fruits of the 25th of April be harvested by the Portuguese and by the various peoples who decided to live, work and continue building this country on Portuguese soil.